The first Russian PD-1 original inhibitor was approved

recently, the Russian Ministry of Health approved the first original PD-1 inhibitor Forteca (INN:prolgolimab) as a treatment for the most aggressive type of cancer - metastatic or insulable melanoma. Prolgolimab acts as a PD-1 inhibitor that helps restore the body's immune system's ability to fight tumors. Its registration is an important step in the development of immuno-oncology and the treatment of patients with malignant tumors.
Melanoma is a malignant tumor developed from melanin cells, a pigment cell that produces melanin. According to the World Health Organization, skin melanoma accounts for about 3-4% of all cancer diseases in adults, and the number of cases of skin melanoma will increase by 25% by 2025. In Russia, 19 percent of the first cases of dermatology melanoma in 2018 have detected melanoma at an advanced stage, according to the 2018 Russian Population Oncology Care Guidelines, which results in poor prognosis and low patient survival.
Prolgolimab is the first Russian PD-1 inhibitor to fight this dangerous tumor. It is an IgG1 antibody with genetically modified Fc fragments. The mechanism by which PD-1 inhibitors work is designed to restore T lymphocytes' ability to identify and destroy malignant cells, with the result that the human immune system is once again fighting tumors.
Cancer immunotherapy is one of the most promising fields in world medicine. More than 1,500 studies are conducted each year on new immunodepressants. By the end of 2018, the global market for immunotherapy drugs had grown by $14 billion.
“ We are pleased that BIOCAD offers new options for patients who are unable to operate or metastasis melanoma. Progolimab is a unique drug in terms of its structure: it is the first PD-1 inhibitor based on IgG1 monoclonal antibodies, and its effect properties are modified. The registration of Russia's first original PD-1 inhibitor is an important stage in the development of immuno-oncology and the treatment of patients with malignant tumors," said Dmitry Morozov, CEO of BIOCAD.
International clinical trials of the new drug are already planned and are currently being registered in several countries, including China, Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Turkey. They should have been launched this year.
About the company
BIOCAD is one of the largest companies in Russia to bring biotechnology and innovation to international standards. It brings together the highest standards of research and development centers, modern pharmaceutical and biotechnology plants, and meets international requirements for clinical and preclinical research.
BIOCAD is a fully integrated company dedicated to all stages of new drug development: from molecular search to large-scale production and marketing support. The resulting drugs are mainly for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Today, the portfolio includes 58 off-the-go products, more than 40 of which are still in different stages of development.The BIOCAD team employs more than 2,700 people, a third of whom are researchers and scientists. The company has offices in the United States, Brazil, China, Vietnam, Finland, the United Arab Emirates and other countries. （cyy123.com）