mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complex

Mycobacterial cell wall-DNA complex (MCC), also known by its brand name Urocidin and code MCNA, is a biologic immunomodulator derived from the non-pathogenic bacterium *Mycobacterium phlei*. [5] It is a cell wall preparation that contains short DNA oligonucleotides complexed on its surface. [2] Developed by Bioniche Life Sciences (later Telesta Therapeutics), it was investigated as an intravesical therapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), particularly in patients whose disease is refractory to or has recurred after standard Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. [6] The drug's mechanism of action is twofold: it directly induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in bladder cancer cells and also exerts an indirect anti-cancer effect by stimulating immune cells like monocytes and macrophages to produce anti-tumor cytokines, such as Interleukin-12 (IL-12). [2] Despite reaching late-stage development and undergoing a Biologics License Application (BLA) review by the U.S. FDA, the application was rejected in 2016. [1] A similar formulation, known as Mycobacterium Cell Wall Fraction (MCWF), has also been studied for veterinary use in canine bladder cancer.

Brand names

Urocidin

Other names

Mycobacterium phlei cell wall complexMycobacterium phlei cell wall-nucleic acid complex