Sharp HealthCare is a not-for-profit regional health care group, in collaboration with Nascent Biotech, Inc, a company pioneering the development of monoclonal antibodies, announced today, its participation in a clinical trial for a novel investigational immunotherapy treatment for patients with glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest form of brain cancer.

Pritumumab (PTB) is a unique monoclonal antibody that attacks cancers originating in the cells lining an organ – referred to as epithelial cells. These include cancers of the brain, breast, colon, and pancreas, as well as melanoma. Prior Phase I and II clinical trials in Japan focused on the treatment of high-grade gliomas including GBM.

This Phase I clinical trial leverages Sharp HealthCare’s comprehensive cancer program in this collaboration when treating all forms of brain tumors. With more than 23,000 new cases of GBM diagnosed in the U.S. every year, Sharp HealthCare’s cancer expertise and reputation appealed to Nascent Biotech as they chose additional sites.

Dr. Charles Redfern, medical director of neuro-oncology at Sharp HealthCare’s Laurel Amtower Cancer Institute and Neuro-Oncology Center, said:

The clinical trial is a good fit for Sharp HealthCare, which is devoted to compassionate patient-centered care, creative innovation, and clinical excellence. This is an exciting clinical trial with targeted immunotherapy for patients with GBM.

Pritumumab works by targeting cell surface vimentin, a protein expressed on the surface of epithelial cancers. Because vimentin is found in a variety of cancers, the clinical trial at Sharp HealthCare could have implications for more common cancers, such as breast or lung. In fact, the trial will employ a unique Phase I design that can also be used in studies of brain metastases and leptomeningeal cancers arising from breast, lung and other solid tumors.

 Sean Carrick, CEO of Nascent Biotech, makers of the immunotherapy treatment, said:

There are significant unmet medical needs in a variety of cancers. Nascent is committed to changing patient expectations and outcomes in one of the world’s most debilitating cancers and Sharp is a valuable partner towards achieving this goal. We’re highly encouraged by the potential of Pritumumab to deliver an innovative, first-in-class treatment option, and we are delighted to be working closely with the Laurel Amtower Cancer Institute and Neuro-Oncology Center at Sharp HealthCare for this study.