Hillstream BioPharma to Announce Collaborating with Sapien Biosciences

Hillstream BioPharma, Inc., a U.S.-based biotechnology company developing novel therapeutic candidates targeting ferroptosis for cancer treatment, announced a collaboration with an Indian pioneer biobank and peonalized medicine company that leverages Saarum Innovation's global life sciences research expertise, Sapien Biosciences. The collaboration is aimed at assessing the compatibility of HSB-1216 with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

HSB-1216, Hillstream’s most advanced candidate, is an IMCD modulator that targets various types of solid tumors. In an exhaustive study in Germany, the active drug in HSB-1216 was found to be efficacious in a clinical pilot for devastating cancers, including epithelial carcinomas and triple-negative breast cancer.

Hillstream aims to build an early clinical proof-of-concept by beginning a clinical investigation with HSB-1216 in 2022. With this collaboration, Hillstream will be able to use Sapien’s patient samples and rich datasets to validate its HSB-1216 for the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

We are initiating studies, in collaboration with Sapien Biosciences, to determine the synergy between HSB-1216, our ferroptosis inducer and nivolumab, an anti-PD1 antibody.” He stated, “In addition, we will also study the potential synergistic effects of HSB-1216 with the recently approved Bristol Myers Squibb drug Opdualag® (nivolumab + relatlimab), a fixed dose combination of an anti-PD1 MAb + anti-LAG3 MAb, to demonstrate that targeting a ferroptosis-associated metabolism in tumors may improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.”

Randy Milby, Hillstream’s Chief Executive Officer.

We are excited to extend our collaboration with Hillstream Biopharma to evaluate potential synergy between their HSB-1216 molecule and ICIs using our expertise in establishing patient tissue-derived cell models in oncology, immunology and Immune-oncology Previously, Sapien demonstrated potent anti-cancer activity of HSB-1216 in primary triple negative breast cancer cells which were presented at AACR 2020.”