Alfacell Corporation is the first company to advance a biopharmaceutical product candidate that works in a manner similar to RNA interference (RNAi) through late-stage clinical trials. The product candidate, ONCONASE, is an RNase that overcomes the challenges of targeting RNA for therapeutic purposes while enabling the development of a new class of targeted therapies for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In addition to an ongoing Phase IIIb study in malignant mesothelioma, Alfacell is conducting a Phase I/II trial of ONCONASE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors.
ONCONASE is a first-in-class therapeutic based on Alfacell's proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology. A natural protein isolated from the leopard frog, ONCONASE has been shown in the laboratory and clinic to target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. ONCONASE triggers apoptosis, the natural death of cells, via multiple molecular mechanisms of action.
Alfacell's proprietary drug discovery program is also the basis for the development of recombinant designed RNases for chemical conjugation and fusion (gene and protein) products with various targeting moieties, such as monoclonal antibodies, growth factors, and cytokines. This program also provides for joint design and development of new products with outside partners seeking line-extensions and/or improvements of the therapeutic effectiveness of their existing products. The reproducibility of our conjugation and fusion methodologies and the stability of these products has been demonstrated, and thus can be produced in a cost-effective and controlled manufacturing environment.
