Innovation Grant Awarded for Qu Biologics Project with University of Ottawa Scientist


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qu Biologics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a unique platform of immunotherapies designed to “reboot” the body’s innate immune system, has partnered with University of Ottawa Assistant Professor Dr. Adam Shuhendler to address advanced questions regarding trafficking of administered biologics. By nature, biologics, which include therapies such as vaccines and antibodies as well as Qu Biologics’ SSIs, are difficult to properly track in living organisms. Therefore, their ultimate fate and metabolism remains largely unknown. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada awarded an Engage grant to enable Qu Biologics and Dr. Shuhendler to tackle this important question together. Engage grants are designed to provide innovative Canadian companies access to special expertise and capabilities available at Canadian universities.

Dr. Shirin Kalyan, Qu Biologics’ Director of Scientific Innovation, said, “We anticipate this work will lead to a detailed understanding of the fate of SSIs in living systems, and equally importantly, it will provide us with new tools to study biologics. The Engage funding award is thus providing support for Canadian innovation and Canada’s knowledge economy.” Dr. Kalyan and Dr. Mark Bazett, Qu Biologics’ Preclinical Lead, will work with Dr. Shuhendler’s group on this novel approach to trace biologics in vivo. Dr. Shuhendler added, “My team and I at the Molecular Medicine labs at the University of Ottawa are very excited to enter into this research partnership with Qu Biologics and to be able to apply our unique synthetic chemistry and molecular imaging skills to support Qu Biologics in their product development. It’s very exciting for us to be involved in work so close to commercialization and clinical translation. The innovative immunotherapy platform developed by Qu Biologics has already achieved very exciting results that will surely benefit Canadians, and this federally sponsored partnership program is allowing my team to make real contributions to a great Canadian innovation.” 

For more information about Qu Biologics and the science behind SSIs, please visit www.qubiologics.com.

About Qu Biologics
Qu Biologics is a Vancouver-based private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies. SSIs are designed to stimulate an innate immune response in targeted organs or tissues to reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory lung disease and arthritis. SSIs are a broad platform technology being tested in multiple disease indications, including Health Canada approved clinical trials in lung cancer, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body’s immune response to chronic disease; and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally.

Qu Biologics Inc. cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Qu Biologics’ forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Qu Biologics’ business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Qu Biologics does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.


            

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