• 24 Jun 2024
• Admin
• News Article

Basilea Partners with Glioblastoma Foundation for Oncology Candidate Lisavanbulin

Overview

Switzerland headquartered Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to meeting the needs of patients with severe bacterial and fungal infections, announced that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Durham-based, North Carolina,    Glioblastoma Foundation Inc, for Basilea’s oncology drug candidate lisavanbulin (BAL101553), which has been developed as a potential therapy for glioblastoma, the most common type of primary brain cancer.

Words from CMO: Basilea

Dr. Marc Engelhardt, CMO of Basilea, said: “Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal types of brain cancer and available therapeutic options are very limited. Partnering lisavanbulin with the Glioblastoma Foundation is important to us, as it enables patients to continue having access to this promising anticancer drug candidate, now that Basilea has changed its strategic focus to anti-infectives.”

Words frok CEO: Glioblastoma Foundation

Dr. Gita Kwatra, chief executive officer of the Glioblastoma Foundation, said: “We are delighted to partner with Basilea and take over the development of lisavanbulin for glioblastoma patients. Lisavanbulin has shown excellent activity against glioblastoma in PDX preclinical models as well as efficacy in phase 1 and 2 studies. We strongly believe that lisavanbulin will be effective in a subset of glioblastoma patients and we are looking forward to initiating clinical trials of lisavanbulin in the US.”

Terms of the Agreement

• Under the terms of the agreement, Basilea sells and transfers all rights to lisavanbulin to the Glioblastoma Foundation for an undisclosed initial purchase price. 
• In addition, Basilea will participate in future proceeds from any potential commercial partnerships at a fixed double-digit percentage. 
• The Glioblastoma Foundation will continue the post-trial access program for patients from previous clinical studies to continue to receive lisavanbulin. 
• Also, the Glioblastoma Foundation will further explore the therapeutic value of lisavanbulin for the treatment of glioblastoma.

About Lisavanbulin

• Lisavanbulin (BAL101553, the prodrug of BAL27862), has been investigated as a potential therapy for glioblastoma in clinical phase 1 and 2 studies. 
• In preclinical studies, lisavanbulin demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity against diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy. 
• Lisavanbulin efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models. 
• The active moiety, BAL27862, binds to the colchicine site of tubulin, with distinct effects on microtubule organization, resulting in the activation of the ""spindle assembly checkpoint"" which promotes tumor cell death. 
• Lisavanbulin has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of malignant glioma (brain cancer), including glioblastoma.

Mission: Glioblastoma Foundation

• The mission of the Glioblastoma Foundation is to transform the standard of care for glioblastoma. 
• It supports the development of new drugs and other effective therapies for glioblastoma. 
• Because each glioblastoma is different, it is likely that no one drug will work for everyone, and any therapies for glioblastoma will need to be targeted. 
• The Glioblastoma Foundation supports the development of targeted therapies for glioblastoma.