BiVictriX Therapeutics secures Innovate UK grant to advance ovarian cancer treatment
BiVictriX Therapeutics plc (AIM: BVX), a pioneering drug discovery and development company, has announced receiving a substantial grant of £0.37 million from Innovate UK. This grant is earmarked for accelerating the preclinical development of BiVictriX’s promising new drug, BVX002, which is designed to target ovarian cancer treatment through a novel approach using bispecific antibody drug conjugates (Bi-Cygni ADCs).
Grant Utilization and Research Focus
The funds from Innovate UK will boost BiVictriX’s ongoing research and development, particularly focusing on BVX002, which is part of the company’s strategy to harness non-dilutive capital for advancing its research and development initiatives. The 18-month funded project will include critical preclinical studies such as the selection of the optimal linker/payload and therapeutic format, followed by in vivo assessments of efficacy, selectivity, and safety.
Impact of Funding on Ovarian Cancer Research
The Innovate UK grant will specifically help in refining the therapeutic index of BVX002, enhancing its ability to target and destroy ovarian cancer cells while minimizing impact on normal tissues. This approach aims to improve treatment outcomes and reduce side effects, addressing a significant unmet medical need in the treatment of solid tumors like ovarian cancer.
Leaders’ Insight on the Development
Tiffany Thorn, Founder and CEO of BiVictriX, commented on the importance of the grant: “The Innovate UK grant award is a crucial step forward for the development of BVX002 in a solid tumour setting of high unmet need, ovarian cancer. This non-dilutive funding will enable us to increase our activities significantly as we move towards the clinic with this programme.”
Dr. Eric Rowinsky, Advisor to BiVictriX for Solid Tumour Therapeutic Approaches, also noted the potential of BVX002: “BVX002 has distinct advantages over other ADCs in its ability to preferentially target and deliver a potent warhead to ovarian cancer without affecting normal tissues, potentially conferring a very favourable therapeutic index.”
The strategic use of the Innovate UK grant to accelerate the development of BVX002 represents a significant advancement in the fight against ovarian cancer. BiVictriX Therapeutics’ focused approach on developing bispecific ADCs reflects a shift towards more targeted and effective cancer treatments, potentially setting a new standard in oncology.