Ascletis is a biotech company dedicated to discovering and developing new treatments against cancer and infectious diseases using RNAi biotechnology.
Ascletis – RNAi Therapeutic
ALN-VSP is a systemically delivered RNAi therapeutic comprising of two siRNAs targeting two genes critical for growth and development of cancer cells: VEGF and Kinesin Spindle Protein (KSP) or Eglin 5 (Eg5). Phase I ALN-VSP trial was designed as a multi-center, open label, dose escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors involving the liver who failed to respond after standard treatment. The main objective is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of intravenous injections of ALN-VSP. But this Phase I Trial is also dedicated to the assessment of tumor response using Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors (RECIST: published guidelines defining when a cancer patients’ disease improves, stabilizes or progresses during treatment). The aim is also to perform a quantitation of changes in tumor blood flow and vascular permeability measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and to analyze the pharmacodynamic effects of ALN-VSP on tumors (measured with voluntary pre- and post-treatment biopsies). Patients involved into this study are receiving ALN-VSP bi-weekly with the primary objective to collect long-term safety data information and to assess tumor response.
Ascletis is based on Hangzhou (China). Directorial Board is composed of Jinzi J. Wu, Allan Baxter, Joseph Musto, Kristjan Gudmundsson, Xiaofan Wang, Cungang Liu and Huoling Tang. Ascletis is conducting both in-house drug discovery and development, and also lots of partnership in USA and Europe. Over the last decade, Ascletis has built a robust pipeline of drug candidates at different stages of development, ranging from lead optimization to late-stage clinical development.
More about Ascletis : www.ascletis.com