Onyvax Limited

Ldn Pharma Limited

Cancer Vaccine Institute

Gw Pharma Limited

Gw Research Limited

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Research UK Limited

Akos Biosciences, Inc.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Limited

Angus Dalgleish

Wai Liu

Anthony Ian Walker

Andrew Derek Sutton

Katherine Scott

Wai Lui

Peter Michael Smith

Stephen Wright

Colin Stott

Marnie Duncan

Nadine Hall

Rachel Allen

The present invention relates to the use of a combination of two different cannabinoids in the treatment of leukaemia. The combination of CBD with THC appears to be particularly effective in reducing cell number in this disease. Preferably the cannabinoids are used in the form of an extract ofsuch that many of the naturally occurring compounds are co-extracted with the THC or CBD. Alternatively, the cannabinoids are present in the form of a highly purified extract of, wherein the CBD or THC are present at greater than 98% of the total extract (w/w) and the other components of the extract are characterized. Alternatively, the CBD and THC may be synthetically produced. A specific ratio of CBD and THC such as 10:1 to 1:10 (CBD:THC) or more preferably between 2:1 to 1:2 (CBD:THC) may be used.

Combination of cannabinoids in the treatment of leukemia

The disclosure provides methods of treating a tumor/cancer by administering naltrexone or an analogue thereof, followed by a recovery phase, and then administering a small molecule signaling inhibitor such as PI3-kinase inhibitors, AKT inhibitors, taxanes, antimetabolites, alkylating agents and/or cell cycle inhibitors. The disclosure also provides diagnostic methods for assessing a therapeutic response to the methods of treatment.

Priming of cancer cells with low dose naltrexone

The present invention relates to naltrexone or an analogue thereof, wherein the analogue is methylnaltrexone, naloxone, nalmefene and nalorphine and vitamin D or an active metabolite, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either for separate, sequential or simultaneous administration, for use in the therapy of an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune therapy

An in vitro method for identifying an anti-cancer agent, the therapeutic efficacy of which is enhanced upon administration with a second agent that increases the expression of OPRK1 and/or BAD, comprising the steps of:

Assay to identify anti-cancer agents

The present invention in the field of cancer therapeutics is based on the finding (illustrated in FIG.) that when cannabinoids are administered to cancer cells after a chemotherapeutic agent has been administered, the combined treatment leads to lower cancer cell viability than administration of the chemotherapeutic agent alone. There is provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising a chemotherapeutic agent for use in the treatment of breast cancer, wherein said treatment comprises a first phase in which the chemotherapeutic agent is administered, and a subsequent second phase in which a cannabinoid is administered.

Combination of a cannabinoid and a chemotheraopeutic agent for the treatment of breast cancer

It has been found by the present inventors that agents that boost the expression of the opioid receptor kappa 1 (OPRK1) can enhance the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents in multiple cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the effect is dose dependent, where the greater the induced expression of OPRK1, the greater the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent. The increase in overall cytotoxicity is independent of the cytotoxicity of the agent that increases the expression of OPRK1, which itself has no or minimal cytotoxic effect.

Agent that increases the expression of the opioid kappa 1 for the treatment of cancer

The invention is based on the finding that co-administration of 6-&#x3b2;-naltrexol alongside vitamin D together with a chemotherapeutic agent, results in a further reduction in lung cancer cell growth. The combination of 6-&#x3b2;-naltrexol with vitamin D results in a greater decrease in the growth of cancer cells compared to the sum of the effects of each agent when administered in isolation.

Combination for use in the treatment of lung cancer

The present invention relates to the use of a combination of two different cannabinoids in the treatment of leukaemia. The combination of CBD with THC appears to be particularly effective in reducing cell number in this disease. Preferably the cannabinoids are used in the form of an extract ofsuch that many of the naturally occurring compounds are co-extracted with the THC or CBD. Alternatively, the cannabinoids are present in the form of a highly purified extract of, wherein the CBD or THC are present at greater than 98% of the total extract (w/w) and the other components of the extract are characterised. Alternatively, the CBD and THC may be synthetically produced. A specific ratio of CBD and THC such as 10:1 to 1:10 (CBD:THC) or more preferably between 2:1 to 1:2 (CBD:THC) may be used.

Combination of cannabinoids in the treatment of leukaemia

The present invention relates to the use of phytocannabinoids for increasing radiosensitivity in the treatment of cancer. Preferably the phytocannabinoids used are either tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and/or cannabidiol (CBD). Preferably the type of cancer to be treated is glioma.

Use of tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol for increasing radiosensitivity in the treatment of a brain tumour

The present invention provides novel therapeutic applications of low dose naltrexone (LDN). Said applications have been determined in light of the discovery by the present inventors that naltrexone acts as an antagonist of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), an innate immune receptor which elicits the production of inflammatory cytokines when agonized. Chronic inflammation and TLR9 overexpression are characteristics of a number of disorders, including certain cancers. Accordingly, the present invention provides novel uses of naltrexone in the treatment of a subject having a disorder characterized by TLR9 overexpression and/or overactivity of TLR9-mediated signalling. The present invention also provides novel uses of naltrexone in the supportive care of subject having a tumor/cancer, and methods of treating and providing supportive care to a subject, comprising the administration of naltrexone.

Treatment of cancer with naltrexone

The invention provides methods and compositions for the treatment of primary, metastatic, and residual cancer in mammals, and more particularly, the use of materials such as whole cells and derivatives and portions thereof to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer.

Human prostate cell lines in cancer treatment

Combinations of cell lines are provided for allogeneic immunotherapy agents in the treatment of cancer. Cancer vaccines generally have been limited to the use of cells that contain at least some tumor specific antigens ('TSAs') and/or tumor associated antigens ('TAAs') having shared identity with antigens in a targeted tumor. In such cases, tumor cells often are utilized as a starting point on the premise that only tumor cells will contain TSAs or TAAs or relevance, and the tissue origins of the cells are matched to the tumor site in patients. A primary aspect of the invention is the use of immortalised normal, non-malignant cells, in combination with primary and/or metastatic tumor cells, as the basis of an allogeneic cell cancer vaccine. Normal cells do not posses TSAs or relevant concentrations of TAAs and hence it is surprising that normal cells are effective as anti-cancer vaccines when administered in combination with primary and/or metastatic tumor cells. More surprisingly, a three way combination of cells obtained from metastasized cells, non metastasized tumor and cells from a normal cell line provided good therapy. For prostate cancer, for example, a vaccine may be based on one or a combination of different immortalized normal cell lines derived from the prostate according to parameters described herein. The cell lines may be lethally irradiated with, for example, gamma irradiation at 50-300 Gy to ensure that they are replication incompetent prior to use.

The invention here relates to a product comprised of a cell line or lines intended for use as an allogeneic immunotherapy agent for the treatment of cancer in mammals and humans. All of the studies of cell-based cancer vaccines to date have one feature in common, namely the intention to use cells that contain at least some TSAs and/or TAAs that are shared with the antigens present in patients' tumor. In each case, tumor cells are utilized as the starting point on the premise that only tumor cells will contain TSAs or TAAs of relevance, and the tissue origins of the cells are matched to the tumor site in patients. A primary aspect of the invention is the use of immortalized normal, non-malignant cells as the basis of an allogeneic cell cancer vaccine. Normal cells do not possess TSAs or relevant concentrations of TAAs and hence it is surprising that normal cells are effective as anti-cancer vaccines. For prostate cancer, for example, a vaccine may be based on one or a combination of different immortalized normal cell lines derived from the prostate. The cell lines are lethally irradiated utilizing gamma irradiation at 50-300 Gy to ensure that they are replication incompetent prior to use in the mammal or human.

Use of human prostate cell lines in cancer treatment

Combinations of cell lines are provided for allogeneic immunotherapy agents in the treatment of cancer. Cancer vaccines generally have been limited to the use of cells that contain at least some tumor specific antigens ('TSAs') and/or tumor associated antigens ('TAAs') having shared identity with antigens in a targeted tumor. In such cases, tumor cells often are utilized as a starting point on the premise that only tumor cells will contain TSAs or TAAs or relevance, and the tissue origins of the cells are matched to the tumor site in patients. A primary aspect of the invention is the use of immortalized normal, non-malignant cells, in combination with primary and/or metastatic tumor cells, as the basis of an allogeneic cell cancer vaccine. Normal cells do not posses TSAs or relevant concentrations of TAAs and hence it is surprising that normal cells are effective as anti-cancer vaccines when administered in combination with primary and/or metastatic tumor cells. More surprisingly, a three way combination of cells obtained from metastasized cells, non metastasized tumor and cells from a normal cell line provided good therapy. For prostate cancer, for example, a vaccine may be based on one or a combination of different immortalized normal cell lines derived from the prostate according to parameters described herein. The cell lines may be lethally irradiated with, for example, gamma irradiation at 50-300 Gy to ensure that they are replication incompetent prior to use.

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Angus Dalgleish