Vesselon Announces Acquisition of FDA-Approved Drug Imagent® to Develop Novel Therapeutic Complexes for Oncology

On August 8, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned that Vesselon, a company specializing in cancer treatment, announced today the acquisition of Imagent®, an FDA-approved drug. Vesselon will utilize Imagent to create new therapeutic complexes across four classes of cancer drugs: cytokines, oncolytic viruses, monoclonal antibodies, and nucleic acid constructs.

Vesselon has integrated Imagent into its Vascular Encapsulation Sonographic Targeting (VEST™) system, which combines three FDA-approved elements: the Imagent drug, conventional ultrasound, and approved anticancer agents. Ultrasound is used to actively target drugs by precisely focusing on tumors, causing the Imagent drug to oscillate within capillaries and selectively open vascular barriers (such as the tumor microenvironment or the blood-brain barrier). Furthermore, certain drugs can be encapsulated within Imagent microspheres and released exclusively at the tumor site via ultrasound. This combination of precise tumor targeting and localized drug release addresses the three major challenges facing all cancer therapies: toxicity, degradation, and targeting.

Imagent was approved by the FDA (NDA 21-191) for diagnostic purposes as a contrast agent for diagnostic ultrasound. Substantial preclinical and clinical evidence demonstrates that microspheres, in conjunction with ultrasound, act at the capillary level to directly deliver and deposit drugs into tumors. This protective mechanism prevents degradation and limits the toxicity associated with most advanced anticancer agents. In addition to protecting drugs during systemic circulation, this therapy enables precise targeting of malignant tissues, significantly reducing the toxicity and side effects of anticancer and immuno-oncology drugs.

“We are eager to combine FDA-approved drugs with approved immuno-oncology agents to address unmet needs in the treatment of solid tumors,” said Rhodemann Li, Founder and Executive Vice President of Vesselon. “This approach enhances beneficial drug activity within tumors while reducing off-target adverse effects in normal tissues and organs. Collectively, these effects prolong and improve the quality of life for patients with solid tumors.”

Vesselon is developing four major classes of therapeutics: 1. cytokines (interleukins), 2. nucleic acids (mRNA), 3. monoclonal antibodies (checkpoint inhibitors), and 4. oncolytic viruses engineered to replicate within cancer cells. VEST™ is particularly valuable for cutting-edge immuno-oncology products—therapeutics that harness the body’s own immune system to combat the growth and spread of malignant tumors.

Clay Larsen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vesselon, stated: “Despite the booming research and investment in immuno-oncology, each drug exhibits significant toxicity, degradability, and targeting issues once it enters the human body. Our VEST™ drug-drug conjugates can address common and persistent challenges across many different tumor types.”

Given that Imagent has already received FDA approval, and considering that VEST™ will be used exclusively with therapeutics that have already obtained FDA approval, Vesselon anticipates a straightforward regulatory pathway for its drug and drug conjugate.

Kevin Kimberlin, Chief Investor and Chairman of Spencer Trask & Co., stated, “As Vesselon addresses the fundamental challenges associated with immuno-oncology, these remarkable advances can fully realize their potential. By altering or halting the rate of cancer spread, Vesselon can transform the landscape of cancer treatment.”

Vesselon, Inc. is developing a novel immuno-oncology therapeutic complex, VEST™, which can protect and target tumors.VESTTMRepresenting vascular-encapsulated ultrasound targeting, byFDAComposition of the Three Approved Ingredients：Lipid Microsphere DrugsImagent、Standard Ultrasound Equipment、andInclude allOncology DrugsofDrug Platform Technology。VesselonspecializedYesThese complexes can play a role in a range of cancers and other serious diseases, with a diverse array of drug types available.

Spencer Trask & Co. is a privately held advanced technology development firm that helps entrepreneurs build high-impact companies capable of changing the world. The company has played a pivotal role in launching leading enterprises in the fields of artificial intelligence, genomics, healthcare, mobile technology, and internet infrastructure.

(Compiled by Tian Shuhang)