Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a rare cancer which begins in the brain. Approximately 20% of all tumors that occur in the brain are glioblastomas. These tumors are highly malignant because they are capable of producing their own supply of blood. There are more men living with a glioblastoma diagnosis than women.
Researchers have yet to find what causes this cancer. However, they have identified some factors that make individuals more at risk, such as radiation therapy.
Symptoms of glioblastoma vary among patients but can include mood swings, seizures, trouble thinking/speaking, blurred vision, persistent headaches, and vomiting.
Current treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and electric-field therapy. When/if tumors regrow following these treatments or combinations thereof, another treatment may be utilized.
OS2966
Researchers at OncoSynergy have been working for over a decade to develop OS2966, a new potential therapy for glioblastoma. This drug works by targeting CD29, or beta1 integrin. CD29 is over expressed in most cancers and so researchers often utilize it in their investigation of therapies. OS2966 has already received Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for both ovarian cancer and glioblastoma.
OS2966 is unique because it targets specific interactions that drive tumor growth and treatment resistance within the tumor microenvironment. By focusing on cancer growth at the tissue level, researchers believe they will be able to more precisely treat the disease.
Preclinical investigations of the therapy have indicated extreme promise for the drug’s ability to combat solid and hematologic cancer cells that were previously treatment resistant.
OncoSynergy has just announced that their Investigational New Drug application for this therapy has been accepted by the FDA. The company needed this approval before they could begin an in-human clinical trial of OS2966. OncoSynergy will be conducting a Phase 1 trial investigating the treatment in patients diagnosed with recurrent glioblastoma.
Stay tuned for further updates on this clinical trial. In the meantime you can read more about the development of OS2966 here.
