Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. Presents Positive Preclinical Data Underscoring the Potential of DNase I as an Adjunctive Treatment to Enhance Immunotherapeutic Responses

TECHNOLOGY 13.03.2025

Data presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Spring Scientific 2025 Cell Therapy Meeting

Findings demonstrate that by degrading neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), DNase I not only facilitates increased T cell infiltration but also restores T cell functionality, paving the way for more effective cancer treatment strategies

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FRAMINGHAM, MA / ACCESS Newswire / March 13, 2025 / Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:XBIO) ("Xenetic" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immuno-oncology technologies addressing difficult to treat cancers, today announced the presentation of preclinical data investigating the potential of co-administration of deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in a syngeneic B16 melanoma murine model of lung metastasis.

The poster titled, "DNase I Intervention Enhances CAR-T Cell Therapy in Solid Tumors by Targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Metastatic Melanoma," was presented on behalf of the Company by Alexey Stepanov, PhD, Institute Investigator at The Scripps Research Institute, at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Spring Scientific 2025 Cell Therapy Meeting being held March 12 - 14, 2025 in San Diego, CA and virtually. 

"These findings further illuminate the crucial role of NETs in limiting CAR T cell function and underscore the potential of DNase I as an adjunctive treatment to improve patient responses to immunotherapies. We continue to be encouraged by the growing body of positive preclinical data and believe that our approach has the potential to prolong survival compared to treatment with CAR T cell monotherapy, including CAR T therapies directed against solid tumors, where there has been only limited activity to date. We are committed to advancing our DNase development program forward and further exploring the translational potential of this combinatorial approach, and to provide patients with a much-needed alternative treatment option that has the potential to address several unmet needs in cancer treatment," commented Reid Bissonnette, Ph.D., Executive Consultant for Translational Research and Development at Xenetic.

For the preclinical study, co-administration of DNase I with CAR T cells was investigated in a syngeneic B16 murine melanoma model of lung metastasis. Bioluminescent imaging of melanoma metastatic processes has shown that a single injection of DNase I (10 mg/kg) together with CAR T cells suppressed B16-EGFR lung metastasis at early stages in comparison to the vehicle control group and extended survival

Key Highlights

Using bioluminescent imaging, researchers observed that a single injection of DNase I (10 mg/kg) effectively suppressed B16-EGFR lung metastasis at early stages compared to vehicle controls. However, while DNase I demonstrated efficacy in reducing tumor growth, it did not significantly improve survival when administered alone.

The combination treatment of DNase I with murine EGFR-CAR T cells led to a marked suppression of tumor burden, a decrease in the number of metastatic foci, and substantial prolongation of survival compared to CAR T cell monotherapy. This therapeutic enhancement was associated with an increase in tumor-infiltrating T and CAR T cells, indicating improved immune engagement.

Analysis of the CD8 T cell population from DNase I-treated groups revealed a notable decrease in PD-1 and TIM-3 expression, markers of T cell exhaustion, suggesting that DNase I effectively mitigates the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Xenetic continues to advance its DNase-based technology towards Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma and other locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Preliminary preclinical studies evaluating the combinations of DNase I with chemotherapy and DNase I with immuno-therapies in colorectal cancer models as well as CAR-T therapy have been completed.

About Xenetic Biosciences

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing innovative immuno-oncology technologies addressing difficult to treat cancers. The Company's DNase technology is designed to improve outcomes of existing treatments, including immunotherapies, by targeting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are involved in the progression of many human cancers. Xenetic is currently focused on advancing its systemic DNase program into the clinic as an adjunctive therapy for pancreatic carcinoma and locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.xeneticbio.com and connect on X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that we intend to be subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by words such as "expects," "plans," "projects," "will," "may," "anticipates," "believes," "should," "intends," "estimates," "remain," "focus", "confidence in", "potential", and other words of similar meaning, including, but not limited to, all statements regarding expectations for our DNase-based oncology platform, including statements regarding: the potential of co-administration of deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in a syngeneic B16 melanoma murine model of lung metastasis; the DNase-based oncology platform continuing to demonstrate encouraging potential across a number of cancer indications and therapy modalities where there remains significant unmet need; efficacy of CAR T cell therapy in solid tumors remaining an important goal; our belief that this approach has the potential to prolong survival compared to treatment with CAR T cell monotherapy; continuing to be encouraged by the data demonstrated to date and looking forward to further exploring the translational potential of this combinatorial approach in enhancing cancer treatment; our focus on advancing innovative immune-oncology technologies addressing hard to treat cancers; the DNase platform improving outcomes of existing treatments, including immunotherapies, by targeting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are involved in cancer progression; and our focus on advancing our systemic DNase program towards Phase 1 clinical development as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma and other locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause our actual activities, performance, achievements, or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual activities, performance, achievements, or results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from our manufacturing and collaboration agreements; (2) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the licensing of the DNase platform; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company following the licensing of the DNase platform; (4) failure to realize the anticipated potential of the DNase or PolyXen technologies; (5) the ability of the Company to obtain funding and implement its business strategy; and (6) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K, periodic quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. In addition, forward-looking statements may also be adversely affected by general market factors, general economic and business conditions, including potential adverse effects of public health issues, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, and geopolitical events, such as the conflicts in the Ukraine and in the Middle East, on economic activity, competitive product development, product availability, federal and state regulations and legislation, the regulatory process for new product candidates and indications, manufacturing issues that may arise, patent positions, litigation, and shareholder activism, among other factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date the statements were made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Contact:

JTC Team, LLC
Jenene Thomas
(908) 824-0775
[email protected]

SOURCE: Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.

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S.Weaver--TFWP