Cancer remains a persistent global health problem despite recent advances. The development of novel strategies to selectively target the tumor blood supply is bolstering traditional antitumor therapies.

The growth of solid tumors requires the development of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, to sustain the cancer by providing oxygen and nutrients. Regeneron has been a pioneer in discovering vascular specific targets such as angiopoietins.

Regeneron is leveraging its discovery platforms, such as microarray and VelociGene, to identify genes that are over-expressed in tumors that could be targets for therapeutic intervention.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)

Blocking Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is the best validated antiangiogenesis approach in cancer and was recognized at an early stage by the Regeneron oncology team as an important target for therapeutic intervention in cancer.

Using its Trap technology, Regeneron developed VEGF Trap, an investigational antiangiogenesis agent that binds and neutralizes VEGF. VEGF Trap inhibits the growth of blood vessels in tumors, reducing the further growth of numerous types of cancers.

Delta-like Ligand 4 (Dll4)

Regeneron used transcriptional profiling to identify the notch ligand, Dll4, which is specifically unregulated in tumor vasculature. To further validate Dll4 as a potential antitumor target, scientists in our protein sciences group developed agents that blocked Dll4. Regeneron confirmed that pharmacological inhibition of Dll4 effectively restrained the growth of several types of tumors.

Using the VelocImmune^® technology, Regeneron developed fully-human, monoclonal antibodies to Dll4. These antibodies are in preclinical development.

New Oncology Targets

Multidisciplinary scientists in the oncology, microarray, and VelociGene groups have worked together to identify the next generation of antiangiogenesis and antitumor targets.