A persistent challenge in cancer therapeutics is the failure to reach long-term therapeutic effects due to tumor heterogeneity, severe side effects, and drug resistance. At the same time, strides in biological data acquisition, increase in computational power, and progress in machine learning and artificial intelligence enable an unprecedented insight into tumor biology and disease progression in individual patients. However, this knowledge translates at best into personalized adjustments to the patients’ treatment regimen, with the physicians choosing among available options that are not ideal and are not themselves personalized. Pattern BioSciences’ suite of platform technologies allows for the first time harnessing the detailed knowledge of tumor biology and patient heterogeneity to develop therapies that are tailored precisely to specific tumor types.
Clearly, better ways to treat cancer are urgently needed. In addition, the convergence of a number of other developments generates a unique opportunity at this moment of time. The exponential grows in biological data collection and data processing capabilities, mentioned above, improve our understanding of disease mechanism. Strides in advanced therapies including gene and cell therapy have, for the first time, led to a number of approved therapies, growth in accompanying manufacturing infrastructure, and regulatory acceptance. Yet these exciting advances are not yet fully exploited in a coherent fashion due to the disconnect between the data, the therapeutic leads, and the clinical practice. Approaches developed by Pattern BioSciences are key to enable broad exploitation of the already-built infrastructures, and therefore increase the return on the already-made investments by private sector and governments.
The objectives of the Action were a feasibility study to assess the parameters and boundary conditions for continuing commercialization of the platform technologies, engaging potential Pharma and Biotech partners on one hand, and technology and clinical partners on the other. We sought detailed feedback on our technical approach and business strategy, as well as IP management. The conclusion of the action was a broad validation of the business strategy and the technology approach, as well as fine-tuning of various aspects on both the business and the technical side, to enable robust growth of the platform and the clinical pipeline.
