Benitec Biopharma this week announced that it has licensed its proprietary expressed RNAi technology to Regen BioPharma, a San Diego-based subsidiary of Bio-Matrix, for use in developing cancer vaccines.
Specifically, the license covers the use of Benitec’s technology to silence indoleamine 2,3 doxygenase in dendritic cells. According to Benitec, the target is associated with immune suppression and is overexpressed in certain cancers.
Regen has generated data suggesting that suppressing the gene in dendritic cells can boost their efficacy as anti-cancer agents, Benitec said.
Specific terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.
Separately, Benitec said that it has raised A$2.8 million ($.2.5 million) through the sale of shares to existing investors.
The transaction follows a A$7.9 million private placement the company completed in March. Benitec said the combined cash will allow it to complete an ongoing phase I/IIa trial of its hepatitis C therapy TT-034, as well as advance its preclinical pipeline.