Prestige Biopharma Identifies New Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Prestige Biopharma Identifies New Biomarker for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Prestige Biopharma (KRX: 950210) announced that the antibody therapeutics research team at its Innovative Discovery Center (IDC) has identified a key signaling pathway associated with PAUF, a major target factor in pancreatic cancer. The findings were published on the 27th of last month in the international journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

PAUF (Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Up-regulated Factor), a protein known to be involved in the progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer, is reported to be overexpressed in more than 80% of pancreatic cancer patients. Through this study, the IDC research team demonstrated that PAUF binds to the TLR4 protein and promotes the migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The study also found that TLR4, identified as a receptor for PAUF, influences the expression of PD-L1, an immune checkpoint protein located on the surface of pancreatic cancer cells. Inhibiting TLR4 was shown to reduce PD-L1 expression, which is known to hinder the immune system’s ability to eliminate cancer cells. Based on these findings, the research team is conducting follow-up studies to evaluate whether simultaneous neutralization of PAUF and inhibition of TLR4 could generate synergistic therapeutic effects in patients with PAUF-overexpressing pancreatic cancer.

This study elucidates the mechanism by which PAUF promotes pancreatic cancer cell migration and further proposes a novel biomarker that could help predict therapeutic responses in pancreatic cancer patients during clinical development of Prestige Biopharma’s antibody drug candidate, PBP1510.

PBP1510 (international nonproprietary name: Ulenistamab) is an antibody therapeutic designed to neutralize PAUF. In 2020, the drug received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). It is currently undergoing Phase 1/2a clinical trials in Europe and the United States. The company is also preparing to apply for Fast Track designation from the FDA.

Dr. Sang-Seok Koh, Head of the IDC at Prestige Biopharma, stated, “Through this research, we have identified an important biomarker for the treatment of PAUF-overexpressing pancreatic cancer. We will accelerate further studies to develop strategies that enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PBP1510 by regulating the expression of TLR4, which plays a critical role in PAUF-mediated cancer progression.”

Meanwhile, Prestige Biopharma is also conducting research on diagnostic technologies that track the presence of PAUF in the body to enable early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Reference: Economic Review (https://www.econovill.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=591523)