Lantern Pharma announces collaboration with Oregon Therapeutics to advance AI-driven cancer drug development

Lantern Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRN) announced a strategic collaboration with French biotech company Oregon Therapeutics to enhance the development of XCE853, a first-in-class protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) inhibitor drug candidate. The partnership, utilizing Lantern Pharma’s proprietary RADR AI platform, aims to identify biomarkers and gene signatures that will guide XCE853’s clinical application in treating various solid tumor cancers.

Key Details of the Collaboration:

1. Deal Structure: The companies will co-own intellectual property, with Oregon Therapeutics entitled to financial benefits from Lantern Pharma’s out-licensing of their background IP.

2. Primary Objectives: This AI-driven collaboration seeks to uncover biomarkers to stratify cancer patients for future trials, identify response and resistance mechanisms, and expand XCE853’s use in other cancer therapies.

3. Innovative Approach: Leveraging Lantern Pharma’s RADR AI platform with a library of over 60 billion data points and 200 machine learning algorithms, the collaboration will analyze diverse biological measurements to better understand how XCE853 interacts with tumor biology.

Importance of XCE853 in Cancer Therapy:

XCE853 targets PDIs involved in multiple cancer indications such as ovarian and pancreatic cancers. According to Marc-Henry Pitty, CEO of Oregon Therapeutics, the compound has shown preclinical efficacy in targeting PDIs, making it promising for precision cancer treatment. The collaboration will streamline development paths and tackle the complex challenges associated with targeting PDI enzymes through a data-driven approach.

Future Potential:

Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma, emphasized that the partnership will benefit both companies through equal IP co-ownership and increased confidence in data-driven development. Their joint expertise will allow for more accurate decision-making in clinical trials, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment strategies. By addressing drug resistance and identifying biomarkers, this partnership signifies a new era in precision oncology.