Elicera’s CEO: “ELC-100 stands apart from all other standard treatments”
Elicera Therapeutics is well-established in the field of cell and gene therapy. Just over a month ago, the company completed patient recruitment for its phase I/II study with ELC-100. Results from the first part of the study are expected in H1 2025. BioStock spoke with CEO Jamal el-Mosleh to hear his thoughts on this achievement.
Elicera Therapeutics develops treatments based on oncolytic viruses and CAR T-cells, specifically targeting tumours while sparing healthy cells and tissues. Through its innovative iTANK platform — an immune-boosting and commercially available technology — the company enhances its candidates with immunoactivating properties to increase their efficacy.
The company recently achieved a major milestone with its drug candidate ELC-100, a genetically modified virus that selectively infects and kills neuroendocrine cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. The treatment has the potential to become a valuable option for patients with neuroendocrine tumours — a difficult-to-treat cancer type that currently lacks effective therapies.
ELC-100 nearing new progress
Elicera announced the milestone on October 24, 2024, stating that the final patient had been enrolled in the ongoing phase I/II study of ELC-100 (AdVince). The patient has now received three doses and is officially part of the study. Sponsored by Uppsala University and funded by the VictoryNET Foundation, the trial is being conducted in two phases.
The initial dose-escalation phase, now fully recruited, primarily evaluates the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the treatment. Four dose levels are being tested in groups of three patients to ensure a thorough assessment of safety and tolerance. Simultaneously, the antitumour effect is being investigated, providing Elicera with critical data for the next phases of development.
With the final patient now included and undergoing treatment, Elicera is approaching the point of evaluating the collective results from the dose-escalation phase. These results will form the basis of the company’s strategy for further development of ELC-100. Results from this initial phase are expected in the first half of 2025, a development that could further strengthen the company’s position in the rapidly growing immunotherapy market.
Comments from the CEO
BioStock reached out to Elicera’s CEO, Jamal el-Mosleh, for more details on this milestone.
Jamal, can you describe more about the safety profile and early results seen with ELC-100 so far?
– The study has been conducted in four dose groups, each with three patients. Since we successfully recruited all 12 planned patients, we have not seen any dose-limiting serious side effects in the first three dose groups. The fourth and final group will complete their treatment shortly. Regarding efficacy, we previously reported signs of clinical activity in two patients.
How do you assess that ELC-100 differs from other ongoing treatments for neuroendocrine tumours, and what market position do you foresee?
– Treatment for patients with neuroendocrine tumours can involve several methods. Surgery is the first option for removing the tumour if possible. Medications like somatostatin analogues can reduce symptoms and slow tumour growth. Some patients receive a specific targeted radiotherapy called PRRT, which directly attacks tumour cells. If the tumour grows rapidly, chemotherapy can be used to slow the disease.
– No immunotherapy has yet been approved for this indication, so our oncolytic virus, ELC-100, stands out as it focuses more on leveraging the immune system against cancer. Regarding positioning, we see potential synergies in combining ELC-100 with other standard therapies, including other immunotherapies. ELC-100 is specifically designed to treat patients with liver metastases who have stopped responding to standard treatments, including those ineligible for surgery.
How do you plan to use data from the dose-escalation phase to optimize success in the upcoming clinical stages?
– The study we are now concluding is a dose-escalation trial designed to assess the safety profile and maximum tolerated dose of the drug candidate. The data will primarily guide the dosing schedule, including dose levels. The overall dataset, including efficacy data, will guide the plan for continued clinical development. We will provide further updates on this once the study is fully reported, which is planned for mid-2025.
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