Novel Treatment for Melanoma

Dr. Rukiyah Van Dross has spent the past 12 years researching a novel therapeutic for melanoma. The work is personal for her: Cancer claimed the lives of her mother and her father.

Rukiyah T. Van Dross-Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology,  is developing a first-of-its kind cancer immunotherapy for melanoma patients to eliminate the cancer cell and prompt the immune system to seek out and destroy other cancer cells. The immunotherapy is for melanoma patients who do not respond to current treatments. Dr. Van Dross-Anderson hopes her work will increase survivability and reduce melanoma recurrence.​

Dr. Van Dross-Anderson has received a two-year grant from NCInnovation to continue developing the treatment, attract quality outside investment, and prepare for clinical trials.

There is an unmet need for new treatments that can increase survivability and reduce recurrence in non-responding melanoma patients as well as those that have Stage III and IV metastatic melanoma(Melanoma accounts for more than 75% of skin cancer deaths in the US and has a 22.5% estimated 5-year survival rate of patients with Stage IV)​

• Technology aligns with biotech strengths at ECU, the Eastern NC region, and NC more broadly.​
• Potential to improve, and extend, the lives of tens of thousands of melanoma patients annually (over 100,000 adults in the US will be diagnosed with melanoma this year).​
• Entrepreneurship training, pharma and commercialization consultant on team.​
• Company formed to license further work.​
• Recipient of previous NC Biotech Center grants (2) and STTR funding.​

• Further differentiation of the subject technology versus alternatives on market.​
• Potential licensing pathways.​
• FDA and regulatory milestones.

• Dare, Carteret, Onslow, Brunswick and Columbus Counties have highest incidence rates in NC.
• No treatments currently increase survivability and reduce recurrence in non-responding, stage III and IV and metastatic melanoma.

Beyond NC: The global treatment market for melanoma is expected to grow $5.64 billion by 2023, representing a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.5%, (GlobalData). With this potential lifesaving drug, over 100,000 lives could be improved and extended annually.

Project EIR: Stella Vnook

Stella Vnook, from Likarda Biotech, serves as the Project Entrepreneur-in-Residence for this funded project during it’s two year term.

Distinguished pharmaceutical executive, serial entrepreneur, highly respected CEO and founder of multiple biotech companies.

The NC life science industry employs over 75,000 people, generates $88B in annual economic impact and brings in $2.4B in state and local government tax revenue annually.

NC cancer centers serve as clinical sites for early-stage trials and further help to  support job retention and growth