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INNOVATION
IRX
Therapeutics
IRX Therapeutics, a University of
South Florida (USF) spinout and
partner for 20 years, is a clinical-
stage company developing novel
immunotherapies focused on re-
ducing the immune suppression
that is seen in the cancer tumor
microenvironment, restoring immune
function, and activating a coordi-
nated immune response against the tumor. Based on immunotherapy studies conducted at USF,
Dr. John W. Hadden’s findings led to new insights into how cancers subvert cellular immunity, a
better understanding of what human tumors undergoing immune regression look like, and a prod-
uct, IRX-2. The company’s lead candidate, IRX-2, is a proprietary therapeutic containing numerous
active cytokine components. The positive Phase 2a results for IRX-2, including encouraging
five-year survival data in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, provide a strong basis for
the growth of the company in the area of immuno-oncology. Currently, IRX-2 is being studied in an
ongoing phase 2b clinical trial in patients with newly diagnosed stage II, III, and IVA squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck and also in preoperative early stage breast cancer. The company
has accelerated the enrollment for this study and will be opening 50 additional sites this year. IRX’s
Board of Directors recently appointed Mark Leuchtenberger as president, chief executive officer,
and director and Monil Shah as chief operating officer. Mr. Leuchtenberger and Dr. Shah are two
biotechnology industry veterans who bring extensive experience in corporate and operational
leadership and oncology drug development to IRX.
More information can be found at:
www.IRXTherapeutics.com
Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19., pp. 653-654, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.3.2018.653
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. 653 www.technologyandinnovation.org

