FRAMINGHAM, MA - Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO), a biopharmaceutical company, has signed a Materials Transfer Agreement with Tokyo Medical University to explore the potential of its recombinant DNase I enzyme as a treatment for Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive pediatric cancer. This collaboration, announced today, will utilize a unique preclinical mouse model to assess the enzyme's efficacy in conjunction with chemotherapy.
Professor Takuro Nakamura from Tokyo Medical University will lead the research, employing his proprietary model that closely mimics the human form of the disease in terms of biological characteristics and gene expression. The model has shown translational relevance, making it a valuable tool for evaluating new therapeutic strategies.
Ewing sarcoma is a rare cancer that primarily affects children and adolescents, forming in bones or soft tissues. Patients with recurrent and metastatic disease face a grim prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of just 20 to 30 percent after relapse. Current treatment options are limited, highlighting the need for new approaches.
Clinical research from the Tel Aviv Medical Center indicates that the presence of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the tumor microenvironment is linked to a poorer prognosis in Ewing sarcoma patients. NETs are associated with increased cancer spread and immunosuppression. Xenetic's recombinant DNase I targets NETs, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
James Parslow, Interim CEO and CFO of Xenetic, expressed the company's commitment to developing the DNase program and leveraging collaborations to expand their data.
The DNase-based oncology platform developed by Xenetic seeks to improve the outcomes of existing cancer treatments, such as immunotherapies and chemotherapy, by reducing the burden of NETs. The company is working to advance this program into clinical trials as an adjunct therapy for pancreatic carcinoma and other advanced solid tumors.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the collaboration with Tokyo Medical University and the potential of Xenetic's DNase platform. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated outcomes.
The information presented here is based on a press release statement from Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.
InvestingPro Insights
As Xenetic Biosciences (NASDAQ:XBIO) embarks on this promising collaboration with Tokyo Medical University, investors should consider some key financial metrics and insights from InvestingPro.
According to InvestingPro data, Xenetic Biosciences has a market capitalization of $5.72 million USD, reflecting its current position as a small-cap biopharmaceutical company. The company's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 stands at $2.52 million USD, with a notable revenue growth of 16.79% over the same period.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Xenetic holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, which could be crucial for funding its ongoing research and development efforts, including the new Ewing sarcoma project. This financial stability is further underscored by the fact that the company's liquid assets exceed its short-term obligations.
However, investors should be aware that analysts anticipate a sales decline in the current year, and the company is not expected to be profitable this year. This aligns with the nature of biopharmaceutical companies in the research and development phase, where significant investments are made before potential commercialization.
The stock's price movements are described as quite volatile, which is not uncommon for small-cap biotech firms, especially those working on potentially groundbreaking treatments like Xenetic's DNase I enzyme for Ewing sarcoma.
For those interested in a deeper analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips and insights that could be valuable for understanding Xenetic Biosciences' financial position and future prospects. In fact, there are 8 more InvestingPro Tips available for XBIO, providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market performance.
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