Wednesday, December 27, 2023
Nectin Therapeutics Ltd., a biotechnology company focusing on the development of targeted immunotherapies to overcome resistance to approved immune oncology treatments, has made notable progress in its Phase 1 clinical trial of NTX1088. The company has expanded the trial to include a combination therapy arm featuring the immune-oncology drug KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy. Additionally, Nectin has included four additional global sites: Sheba Medical Center, Hadassah Medical Center, Ochsner Health, and City of Hope, alongside its flagship site, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
NTX1088 represents Nectin's lead candidate, a potent monoclonal antibody targeting PVR (CD155), a transmembrane protein expressed on cancer cells associated with resistance to PD1 and PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. The unique approach of PVR blockade by NTX1088 aims to restore the antitumor immune activity of DNAM1 (CD226). DNAM1 is a cell surface glycoprotein crucial to the function of T and NK cells, and its degradation by PVR on tumor cells hinders immune response. Blocking PVR with NTX1088 aims to restore DNAM1 expression and activation, resulting in enhanced antitumor activity.
NTX1088 not only stimulates antitumor immune responses by restoring DNAM1 but also prevents the suppressing signaling of various immune checkpoint receptors, including TIGIT and CD96. Currently undergoing clinical evaluation as both a monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), NTX1088 has shown promising preclinical data and a favorable safety profile in non-human primates.
"We are excited to include Israeli patients in the NTX1088 clinical trial," expressed Dr. Raanan Berger, Director of the Cancer Center at the Sheba Medical Center. Dr. Keren Paz, Chief Development Officer of Nectin Therapeutics, emphasized the transformative potential of their innovative pipeline for hard-to-treat cancers, driven by dedicated research efforts in Israel. The company is optimistic about the rapid progress of the NTX1088 clinical program and its global expansion.
Source: prnewswire.com
