Oncolytics Biotech Inc T.ONC

AstraZeneca brings in new VP Oncology with BC experience

[Noteable]

April 13, 2022 -  Matthew Ellis, senior vice president of early oncology. Ellis joined the big pharma in March after spending a year in academic research.

Ellis joined AstraZeneca from the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, where he was the director who oversaw efforts to better understand the molecular profile of breast cancer in order to improve treatment. He was also the co-lead of The Cancer Genome Atlas Breast Cancer project.

As a breast cancer physician, Ellis said he’s prescribed PARP inhibitors on multiple occasions and expressed particular excitement about AZD5305, the next-generation PARP1 inhibitor. He noted that this particular asset has been designed to target PARP1, while engineering out PARP2. Current PARP inhibitors that include PARP2 have some off-target issues, he said.

“This has improved the off-target profile,” Ellis said, referring to AZD5305. “The preclinical profile of it is remarkable… the hematological toxicity is gone.”

Ellis added that without the toxicity concerns from PARP2, there is a potential for using higher doses in patients. That could ultimately lead to its use as a medication that could prevent breast cancer patients from having to have a mastectomy and prevent prostate cancer patients from having invasive procedures.

“We’re still in early days with this molecule with early data, but it’s captured everyone’s imagination. This is something we intend to take advantage of,” Ellis said.

He also expressed excitement about the ADC AZD8205, saying that early data suggests the therapy is a “remarkable opportunity to replace chemotherapy.” As an oncologist, Ellis said chemotherapy is a double-edged sword of treatment.

https://www.biospace.com/article/astrazeneca-rolls-into-aacr-with-60-presentations-new-svo-of-early-oncology/


[ It has been discussed that ONCY's oncolytic virus pelareorep could be very compatible with PARP inhibitors, as well as other checkpoint inhibitors and IO agents, thus further reducing off target toxicity produced by some of those CPI's, while also reducing the need for elevated levels of chemotherapy currently being used. ]