Texas-Based Cancer Insight Helps Clients Obtain $31 Million in CPRIT Funding Thus Far in 2019

Cancer Insight is Instrumental in Securing CPRIT Funding for Companies Developing Novel Cancer Treatments

SAN ANTONIO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#CPRIT–In just under eight months, Texas-based Cancer Insight has helped three biotech companies obtain over $31 million in funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). On August 21, 2019, CPRIT approved awards to these Cancer Insight clients: OncoNano Medicine ($15.4 million Product Development Research Award) and Emtora Biosciences ($3 million SEED Award). In addition, CPRIT made a $13.1 million Company Relocation Award on February 21, 2019 to Hummingbird Biosciences, a Cancer Insight client, to relocate from Singapore to Texas.

Cancer Insight is a cutting-edge clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) that designs and executes immuno–oncology clinical trials. Under the leadership of its CEO, Dr. George Peoples, MD, Cancer Insight is on the vanguard of developing novel immunotherapies in the war against cancer. While providing the comprehensive CRO services needed to execute a clinical trial, Cancer Insight also offers consultation on trial design and clinical development strategy. For CPRIT applicants, Cancer Insight provides clinical development and commercialization strategies that are more likely to be funded by CPRIT, and the company has an established track record of successfully helping oncology companies obtain CPRIT funding.

“Our novel approach to cancer immunotherapy using pH as a biomarker holds a universe of opportunity, and Cancer Insight’s collaboration in designing an efficient research program was key to our obtaining this award from CPRIT,” commented Dr. Ravi Srinivasan, CEO of OncoNano Medicine. “Cancer Insight is a highly professional CRO and a key collaborator in our efforts to commercialize OncoNano’s novel technologies in the oncology space.”

“We have been extremely fortunate to have Cancer Insight and Dr. Peoples as part of our Emtora team,” commented Emtora Biosciences CEO Dr. Carole Spangler Vaughn. “This Award from CPRIT will vault us to the next level of development. Dr. Peoples has an excellent reputation and the entire team at Cancer Insight is very knowledgeable and always a pleasure to work with.”

“Cancer Insight’s guidance helped us to differentiate our platform and obtain a highly-selective award from CPRIT,” commented Dr. Piers Ingram, CEO of Hummingbird Bioscience. “The CPRIT Award has played a significant role in establishing our operations in Texas and developing our anti-VISTA immuno-oncology program. Cancer Insight did a brilliant job of shepherding us through the CPRIT process.” Ingram further noted, “We have been deeply impressed by Cancer Insight’s understanding of the immuno-oncology space.”

“CPRIT is a game changer for the Texas oncology ecosystem,” noted Dr. George Peoples, MD, CEO of Cancer Insight. “CPRIT is providing critical early-stage funding to promising Texas oncology companies as well as attracting some of the world’s best early stage cancer companies to relocate to Texas. It’s an honor to partner with these outstanding and innovative cancer-focused companies. Texans should be proud of the impact CPRIT is making in the field of oncology.”

Founded in 2014, Cancer Insight, LLC, is a Texas-based clinical research organization (CRO) dedicated to discovering, developing and testing emerging biotechnologies specializing in cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Insight offers a vertical range of CRO services from trial design to final execution, with a foundation grounded on decades of scientific research and clinical trial experience. www.cancerinsight.com

About OncoNano Medicine

OncoNano Medicine is developing a new class of pH-activated compounds that digitalize and exploit the variability of pH in disease. pH variability is a proven, simple and effective identifier of diseased tissue providing a foundation for the development of a broad range of highly targeted therapeutics and imaging agents. OncoNano is the first company to advance product candidates using pH as a biomarker for cancer immunotherapy, therapeutic use and intraoperative imaging based on its pH-sensitive micelle technology. OncoNano is based in Dallas, Texas. www.onconanomed.com

About Emtora Biosciences

Researchers at UT Health San Antonio discovered that an improved, targeted formulation of the well-known drug rapamycin extended life span and health span in rodents by mitigating the effects of age-related diseases. Emtora, as the exclusive licensee of this technology, is strategically developing and commercializing its drug compound, eRapa, for indications where there are serious unmet medical needs. Emtora is based in San Antonio, Texas. www.emtorabio.com

About Hummingbird Bioscience

Hummingbird Bioscience is an innovative therapeutics development company with a proprietary rational antibody discovery platform and deep experience in applying integrative genomics and proteomics. Hummingbird develops precision therapeutic antibodies to clinical proof-of-concept for patients with the highest unmet need. The company has a pipeline of first or best-in-class drug candidates. Within its pipeline, HMBD-001 (anti-HER3 antibody) and HMBD-002 (anti-VISTA antibody) are anticipated to start clinical trials in 2020. The company has locations in South San Francisco, CA, Singapore, and Houston, Texas. www.hummingbirdbioscience.com

About CPRIT

CPRIT’s mission is to grow the cancer-fighting ecosystem of Texas and accelerate the potential for breakthroughs in cancer preventions and cures. CPRIT does this by, among other programs, awarding merit-based, peer-reviewed product development grants to Texas-based companies. www.cprit.state.tx.us

Contacts

Lisa Owens, 210-601-6647 [email protected] || cancerinsight.com