Medical Finalist - NETrolyze: A Novel Immunotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Sam Currier and Priyan Weerrappuli
University of Michigan
West Bloomfield, MI

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer that poses significant challenges in treatment. The primary problem with TNBC is the lack of effective treatments to stop cancer metastasis, the spread of malignant cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant organs. TNBC tumors exhibit high rates of metastasis and are becoming increasingly more prevalent, disproportionately affecting African American women. The current standard of care strategies, such as notoriously toxic chemotherapy, require weeks to months to demonstrate efficacy and often fail due to tumor resistance. There is currently no therapeutic option that specifically targets and prevents metastasis following the initial detection of TNBC.

A team at the University of Michigan has designed an innovative first-in-class therapeutic injectable that directly targets the metastatic process in TNBC. Their product, NETrolyze, consists of a small molecule loaded into a slow-release gel, designed to continuously fight off metastasis. It systematically targets only the cancerous tumor while preserving the integrity of the body’s overall immune system.

“The idea for NETrolyze originated from research conducted in Co-Founder Priyan’s laboratory at the University of Michigan. It builds upon his work in metastasis and was developed in collaboration with a pharmaceutical manufacturer, resulting in the product we have today,” said Co-Founder Sam Currier.

NETrolyze works by degrading neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a recently discovered metastasis-promoting material found in the microenvironment of TNBC tumors. By attacking this immune material rather than the tumor itself, NETrolyze has been developed around the problem that prevents others from conquering cancer metastasis. The localized delivery mechanism of NETrolyze circumvents the complications associated with chemotherapy by effectively preventing cancer spread while maintaining the patient’s overall health.

“There were minor scientific and technical challenges that we encountered during the development of this therapeutic (e.g. selecting a lead compound, managing large-scale experiments that require a strong understanding of cancer biology, immunology, and pharmacology),” said Currier. “This technology (as a whole) has largely advanced through a combination of luck, hard work, and broad collaboration with scientific, technical, and clinical experts around the world,” he added.

Over a decade of research and development has been dedicated to creating and rigorously testing NETrolyze. Proof-of-concept studies conducted in mouse models have confirmed its clinical efficacy and safety. NETrolyze has been manufactured in collaboration with a contract laboratory, resulting in a GMP-certified safe formulation, and the intellectual property is protected through patents and licensing agreements.

It is estimated that NETrolyze could enable thousands of TNBC patients to avoid toxic chemotherapies and prohibitively expensive treatments associated with advanced metastatic disease. The successful development of NETrolyze represents a significant step forward in the fight against TNBC and has the potential to transform the lives of countless patients and their families, offering hope in the face of this devastating disease.

“While the commercialization of new drugs is a lengthy process, NETrolyze was designed with patient needs as the top priority. Our goal is to initiate first-in-human trials and enter the clinic within the next three years. We believe that NETrolyze holds the potential to benefit not only breast cancer patients but also those affected by other types of cancer where tumor progression can be halted,” said Currier.

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