INOVIQ Limited (ASX:IIQ) has successfully produced and isolated engineered exosomes that target and kill breast cancer cells in vitro.
- In a proof-of-concept study, a breast cancer targeting protein (a chimeric antigen receptor, CAR) was expressed in exosomes released by immune cells.
- The modified exosomes were isolated and concentrated from immune cell-conditioned media using INOVIQ’s proprietary EXO-ACE™ technology (see ASX announcement dated 20 March 2024).
- EXO-ACE™ recovered more than 80% of exosomes from cell-conditioned media with over 95% purity.
- When treated with these exosomes, 75% of breast cancer cells underwent cell death within 72 hours.
- Based on these excellent results, INOVIQ will now progress its exosome therapeutics program, initially focusing on immune-cell derived exosome therapeutics for metastatic breast and ovarian cancers.
CEO Leearne Hinch said: “INOVIQ has established core capabilities in-house to engineer, load and produce exosomes for therapeutic applications. These data highlight the potential of immune-cell derived exosomes as an effective cancer therapy and the potential for RNA drug-loaded exosome therapeutics. The Company is scaling its exosome production capacity using its EXO-ACE™ technology to isolate exosomes and advancing its immune cell-derived exosome program towards key preclinical in vitro and in vivo milestones for cancer starting in CY24. Preclinical in vivo data are expected to support discussions with pharmaceutical companies for potential partnered exosome therapeutic opportunities.”