Cytokine IL-17E Enhances Virulizin's Antitumor Activity

Lorus Therapeutics has announced the discovery that IL-17E, a novel component of the immune system, participates in the mechanism of Virulizin-mediated anticancer activity, further elucidating the mechanism of action of this drug, which is in a fully enrolled pivotal Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Virulizin, Lorus' lead anticancer drug candidate, has demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy in Phase I and II clinical trials by stimulating the immune system to attack and destroy tumor cells. Scientists at Lorus have continued to identify the cellular components of the immune system involved in the mechanism by which Virulizin acts as a novel biological response modifier. Previously published results demonstrate that macrophages and NK cells, essential parts of the innate immune response, are important components in the antitumor mechanism of Virulizin.