Collaboration to Deploy AI Imaging Methodologies for Reliable Early Efficacy
Toronto, Houston and London, March 19, 2019 – Medicenna Therapeutics Corp., (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) a clinical stage immuno-oncology company and IAG, Image Analysis Group, a strategic bio-pharma imaging expert partner, today announced an alliance to join their efforts in the development of Medicenna’s MDNA55, a first-in-class, Interleukin-4 Empowered Cytokine™ that specifically targets the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R) for intra-tumoral treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) and other central nervous system tumors.
Immunotherapies such as MDNA55, often lead to pseudo-progression, a local tissue reaction resulting from immune cell infiltration, inflammation, tumor necrosis and oedema which are misinterpreted as tumor growth on traditional MRI’s. Pseudo-progression is difficult to distinguish from disease progression using routine clinical MRI assessments. Thus, IAG and Medicenna will be deploying advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven methodologies that provide reliable early efficacy readouts.
IAG’s scientific and clinical imaging expertise in the field of GBM will be coupled with the latest AI driven methodologies to validate the impact of MDNA55 on brain tumours.
In Medicenna’s MDNA55 clinical program these advanced imaging protocol will aid fast response evaluation and identification of treatment related changes that can mask underlying tumour response. This is crucial for development of treatments with a substantial immune mediated component and for evaluating heterogenous tumour types such as GBM.
The use of novel image analysis methodologies will allow the partners to address complex issues such as pseudo-progression and quantitatively measure the treatment response, thus deploying a truly precision medicine approach to accurately monitor patient outcomes.
About Medicenna
Medicenna is a clinical stage immunotherapy company focused on oncology and the development and commercialization of novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first in class Empowered Cytokines™ (ECs) for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Medicenna’s wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Medicenna BioPharma, is specifically targeting the Interleukin-4 Receptor (IL4R), which is over-expressed by at least 20 different types of cancer affecting more than one million new cancer patients every year. Supported by a significant non-dilutive grant from CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas), Medicenna’s lead IL4-EC, MDNA55 is being investigated in a Phase 2b clinical trial for rGBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer, at top-ranked brain cancer centres in the US. MDNA55 has completed three clinical trials in 72 patients, including 66 adults with rGBM, demonstrated compelling efficacy and obtained Fast-Track and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA respectively. For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com.
About Image Analysis Group (IAG)
IAG, Image Analysis Group is a unique partner to life sciences companies. IAG leverages expertise in medical imaging and the power of Dynamika™ – our proprietary cloud-based platform, to de-risk clinical development and deliver lifesaving therapies into the hands of patients much sooner. IAG provides early drug efficacy assessments, smart patient recruitment and predictive analysis of advanced treatment manifestations, thus lowering investment risk and accelerating study outcomes. IAG bio-partnering takes a broader view on asset development bringing R&D solutions, operational breadth, radiological expertise via risk-sharing financing and partnering models.
Learn more: wp1.ia-grp.com
Reach out: imaging.experts@ia-grp.com
Follow the Company: Linkedin