OREANDA-NEWS. Intensity Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company developing proprietary immune cell-activating cancer treatments, announced that preclinical research from the Company and its collaborators at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) were selected for oral presentation at two important upcoming congresses. The results demonstrate the ability of Intensity's proprietary product, INT230-6, to create a robust anti-cancer immunological effect in a murine model of cancer.

In preclinical studies conducted by Intensity Therapeutics in collaboration with the NCI, injection of INT230-6 into large colon cancer tumors in mice caused tumor shrinkage in 100% of the subjects, with up to 80% experiencing a complete response. Complete responders further experienced an immunologically based, durable vaccine-like effect that protected the animals from multiple re-inoculation challenges using the same colon cancer cell type. To confirm that the effect was immunologically based, a portion of complete responders were depleted of CD4- and/or CD8-positive T-cells prior to the re-challenge. CD4 and CD8 T-cell depletion indeed reversed the protection. This data indicates that a local intratumoral injection of INT230-6 causes the release of antigens that induce specific T-cell responses, enabling distant tumor regression and immunological memory.

Intensity Therapeutics' Chief Executive Officer Lewis H. Bender added, "We believe that INT230-6, a locally administered and potentially low-toxicity product, could be a major advance in the treatment of cancer. Data suggest that our approach could activate a personalized, systemic immunologic response to attack both the patient's primary, visible tumors and kill distal cancer metastases to place the patient in remission and prevent disease recurrence."

About INT230-6 

INT230-6 is a novel, anticancer drug product able to disperse through tumors and diffuse into cancer cells. The product was identified from Intensity's DfuseRxSM platform technology. Using in vivo preclinical models of severe cancer, INT230-6 treatment results in substantial improvement in overall survival compared to standard therapies. The product can completely clear large tumors in animal models. Complete responders have long-term protection even after multiple re-inoculations of the cancer. INT230-6 administration has shown an increased recruitment of immune cells to the tumor micro-environment. Intensity Therapeutics anticipates making an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. FDA in 2016 to commence Phase 1 clinical studies.

About Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. 

Intensity Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company whose mission is to greatly extend the lives of patients with cancer. Intensity Therapeutics is pioneering a new immune-based approach to treat cancer - in situ vaccination. The Company uses its DfuseRxSM platform technology to create new products capable of attenuating (killing) a tumor in a manner that allows for the adaptive immune system to recognize the cancer and attack tumors.