Enabling convenient systemic administration and co-formulations with other agents
While the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is a well-recognized immune-boosting pathway and has long been an area of interest in cancer treatment, STING-activating therapies have historically been stymied in clinical trials due to delivery challenges. PORT-5 (STIM1) offers a first-in-class approach to developing molecules that activate the STING pathway.
PORT-5 packages a STING agonist in a virus-like particle (VLP), a well-tested delivery system that can be customized and targeted to specific cells and tumor types across the entire body. PORT-5 combines cGMP, the most well-characterized activator of STING, with a VLP. The resulting therapy can be administered systemically and has the potential to stimulate a targeted and specific immune response against multiple tumor types. One or more targeted agents can be packaged within the VLP to increase its potency.
PORT-5 programs are currently in preclinical studies. Clinical development is expected to begin in 2022.