Our previous work within the ERC Stg grant “deFiber” demonstrated that a drug called tasquinimod can ameliorate a chronic blood cancer (myeloproliferative neoplasms; MPN) which is associated with life-limiting fibrosis of the bone marrow. The data presented in our publication show that treatment with tasquinimod results in normal blood counts, reduction of fibrosis in the bone marrow and normalization of spleen size in this mouse model. The results suggest that tasquinimod can act as a disease modifying agent in MPN.
These results and the global rights to patents relating to the use of tasquinimod for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF) have now been licensed to Active Biotech.
Active Biotech and Erasmus MC will also initiate a research collaboration related to the use of tasquinimod in MF, that includes preclinical as well as a clinical proof-of-concept study in patients with MF. The clinical proof-of-concept study will be financed by Oncode Institute (an affiliated partner of Erasmus MC) and Active Biotech, and it will be conducted as a HOVON trial (HO172).
