Animal therapeutics company names partner for oncology drug development

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Akston Biosciences Corporation, based in Beverly, Massachusetts, has announced a strategic partnership with Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, to codevelop an anti-cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunotherapy to treat cancer in dogs.¹ The university’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) developed the original underlying technology for the drug.1 Through the partnership, Akston receives an exclusive option to license the anti-cPD-L1 mAb.¹ The corporation will also serve as a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), working to further develop and produce the antibody at their own facility.¹

“Purdue Veterinary Medicine is an excellent partner for Akston as we seek to develop an array of new products to treat cancer in pets,” Todd Zion, PhD, president and CEO of Akston Biosciences said in a news release.¹ “Through in-licensing, this opportunity demonstrates Akston’s commitment to add innovative products invented outside of Akston to our strong pipeline of homegrown therapeutics developed via Akston’s Ambifect Fc-fusion [protein] platform.”

The partners plan to begin a clinical trial evaluating the anti-cPD-L1 mAb’s effectiveness in dogs with bladder cancer later in 2024. Akston will provide the anti-cPD-L1 mAb for the trial, as they look to confirm the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor effects of the drug.¹ The trial, supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute in the PRE-medical Cancer Immunotherapy Network Canine Trials Consortium (PRECINCT) U01 program, and by the Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, will be conducted at the university.¹ Parallel studies will be performed to determine the effects of the mAb on the anti-tumor responses in the dogs.¹

“Partnering with Akston to further develop and manufacture our cPD-L1 mAb is instrumental in developing this cancer therapy for dogs,” Deborah Knapp, DVM, director of Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center and professor of comparative oncology at Purdue University, said in a news release.¹ “Immune checkpoint blockade therapy, currently one of the most promising cancer immunotherapies, has shown remarkable clinical impact in multiple human cancer types. As a result, we expect that this mAb will have a strong impact in canine oncology as well.”

Akston Biosciences Corporation, a health care tech startup, turned their attention towards companion animal health in August 2023.² The corporation develops biologics and therapeutic vaccines through their Ambifect Fc-fusion protein platform. The platform was recognized with the “Most Innovative” award at the 2023 Animal Health Summit in Kansas City, Missouri.³

In July 2024, Akston’s long-acting veterinary insulin programs were purchased

by Dechra Limited. At the time of the sale, Zion expressed excitement for Dechra to take their insulin programs over the finish line, while Akston focused their attention on the development of animal health products in areas including obesity, chronic pain, atopic dermatitis, and cancer.⁴ 

References

1. Purdue and Akston Biosciences Sign Partnership Agreement for Dog Cancer Drug Development. News release. Birnbach Communications for Akston Biosciences. August 13, 2024. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240813235302/en/Purdue-and-Akston-Biosciences-Sign-Partnership-Agreement-for-Dog-Cancer-Drug-Development
2. dvm360 staff. Therapeutics developer turns its focus to companion animal health. dvm360. August 18, 2023. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/therapeutics-developer-turns-its-focus-to-companion-animal-health
3. Burke J. Akston Biosciences wins Innovation Award at Animal Health Summit. dvm360. August 31, 2023. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/akston-biosciences-wins-innovation-award-at-animal-health-summit
4. Coppock K. Global veterinary pharmaceutical specialist acquires innovative insulin programs. dvm360. July 30, 2024. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://www.dvm360.com/view/global-veterinary-pharmaceutical-specialist-acquires-innovative-insulin-programs