ImCheck Publishes Comprehensive Overview of the Development Results of Its First-in-class Cancer Immunotherapeutic Targeting BTN3A to Activate Gamma-delta T Cells in Science Translational Medicine
ImCheck Publishes Comprehensive Overview of the Development Results of Its First-in-class Cancer Immunotherapeutic Targeting BTN3A to Activate Gamma-delta T Cells in Science Translational Medicine
- Publication underscores ImCheck’s pioneering role in Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-based immunotherapy capable of bridging to the adaptive antitumor immune response through a novel family of immune checkpoint targets
- Evaluation details ICT01’s progression from bench to bedside describing factors that enabled ICT01 to overcome limitations of prior efforts to activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells for the treatment of cancer
ImCheck Therapeutics announced today the publication of the preclinical to clinical development of its lead immuno-oncology program, ICT01. The publication in the medical journal Science Translational Medicine details ImCheck’s butyrophilin (BTN)-based immuno-oncology approach and positions ImCheck as a pioneer in a nascent field of immunomodulation. ICT01 is a fully-humanized anti-BTN3A monoclonal antibody designed to selectively activate gamma 9 delta 2 (Vγ9Vδ2) T cells through all three isoforms of BTN3A (1/2/3), which are expressed on the surface of innate and adaptive immune cells and overexpressed on the tumor cells of a number of solid and hematologic cancers.
The article, titled “Development of ICT01, a first-in-class, anti-BTN3A antibody for activating Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-mediated anti-tumor immune response” describes the molecular mechanism of how ICT01 activates Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in a pAg-independent and BTN3A isoform-agnostic manner, overcoming the two key limitations of prior efforts to activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. In the first-in-human EVICTION Phase I/IIa clinical trial, ICT01 demonstrated selective activation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, causing them to rapidly migrate out of the circulation and into tumor tissue. Furthermore, ICT01-activated Vγ9Vδ2 T cells secrete IFNγ and TNFa that expands the anti-tumor immune response by recruiting CD3 and CD8 T cells into tumors.
“This very comprehensive publication describes the bench-to-bedside story of ICT01 and presents in detail ImCheck’s novel and differentiated immunotherapeutic approach,” said Paul Frohna, PharmD, Chief Medical Officer of ImCheck. “ICT01’s unique design circumvents prior limitations of activating Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in cancer patients, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. We look forward to building upon these published results in an upcoming presentation at the SITC 2021 Annual Meeting.”
“Our mission is to apply our scientific expertise and clinical leadership with the BTN superfamily of immunomodulators to bring innovative therapeutics to patients. The publication of these findings in Science Translational Medicine exemplifies our leadership in BTN research as a promising avenue of investigation for cancer immunotherapy and supports the further development of our pipeline of other BTN-targeted programs,” stated Pierre d’Epenoux, Chief Executive Officer of ImCheck Therapeutics.
The publication was authored by ImCheck scientists in collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Daniel Olive, Professor of Immunology and Director of the Oncology Research Programs at Aix Marseille University and the company’s scientific founder.
Confo Therapeutics Enters Collaborative Agreement With Regeneron
Confo Therapeutics Enters Collaborative Agreement With Regeneron
— Confo will work together with Regeneron to apply its GPCR drug discovery platform to enable functional antibody discovery —
Ghent, Belgium – November 30, 2021 – Confo Therapeutics today announced that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. whereby Confo’s technology platform, which uses conformationally selective VHH antibodies – ConfoBodies® – to stabilize GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) in disease-relevant conformations, will be applied with the goal of enabling the discovery of novel therapeutic antibody drug candidates. The agreement will leverage Confo’s expertise in addressing two GPCR targets for which functional antibodies are needed. Confo will be entitled to an upfront payment, research funding, and potential clinical, regulatory, and commercial payments. Further details regarding the agreement have not been disclosed.
Confo’s ConfoBody-based technology platform aims to overcome the limitations of drug discovery on GPCRs, the largest and most diverse group of membrane receptors targeted by approximately 30% of all commercialized drugs.
“With ten medicines approved by regulatory authorities, Regeneron is regarded in our industry as one of the most effective antibody discovery and development companies, with a successful track record of translating scientific insight into effective and innovative treatments. Working with them underscores the significant potential of our technology platform, in particular our new application to generate antibody drug candidates, and its promise to unveil GPCR drug targets and overcome a range of limitations of current approaches,” commented Cedric Ververken, Chief Executive Officer of Confo Therapeutics.
Christel Menet, Chief Scientific Officer of Confo Therapeutics added: “We value this opportunity to showcase the strength of this new addition to our technology suite and participate in what we hope will be the development of successful new antibody-based therapies. Parallel to this, we continue on our own drug development path, and drive innovative small molecule and biological therapeutics into our own pipeline.”
About Confo Therapeutics
Confo Therapeutics’ unparalleled technology stabilizes functional conformations of GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors) to uncover a wide range of previously inaccessible drug targets. This platform combined with the pharmacologic and biologic insight it provides, allows Confo to build a multi-indication pipeline of drug candidates with the vision of transforming therapeutic outcomes for patients with severe illnesses lacking disease-modifying treatments. Confo Therapeutics was spun out of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and VIB in 2015. Supported by international life-science focused investors and led by an experienced team of entrepreneurial professionals and scientists from successful biopharmaceutical companies, Confo Therapeutics benefits from the rich scientific and innovative ecosystem in Belgium.
For more information, visit www.confotherapeutics.com
TRiCares Announces Successful First in Human Implantations of Minimally Invasive Topaz Tricuspid Heart ...
TRiCares Announces Successful First in Human Implantations of Minimally Invasive Topaz Tricuspid Heart Valve Replacement System
Paris, France and Munich, Germany, July 5, 2021 – TRiCares SAS (“TRiCares”) a privately held pioneer in the field of minimally invasive treatment of tricuspid regurgitation, today is pleased to announce the successful first in human implantations of its Topaz transfemoral tricuspid heart valve replacement system (“Topaz”).
Heart valve diseases are among the most serious cardiac conditions affecting more than 12.7 million patients in Europe. In the last decade minimally invasive catheter-based solutions have been developed for other heart valve diseases, but none have been designed specifically for the tricuspid valve.
Tricuspid regurgitation is a frequent and serious disease for which open heart surgery and symptomatic pharmacologic treatment are the current standard treatment options. Owing to high mortality risk, access to open heart surgery is severely restricted and is not considered an option for more than 99% of patients with tricuspid regurgitation. The prognosis for patients without surgical repair is poor, with 2.2 years median survival. As such, there is an urgent need for minimally invasive, lower risk solutions to improve outcomes for patients with no other viable treatment options.
Topaz is an innovative device designed specifically to help patients suffering from severe tricuspid regurgitation without the need for open heart surgery. The Topaz device is the result of a French and German collaboration, and is implanted in a minimally invasive procedure through the patient’s femoral vein. It is designed specifically to fit the tricuspid valve anatomy and thus support ease of positioning and functionality.
Today’s announcement marks the successful first two implantations of Topaz in patients, which were done on a compassionate use basis.
The first patient to benefit from this technology is a 70-year-old woman with heart failure due to severe tricuspid regurgitation. She was no longer responding to medical treatment and considered inoperable given her condition and operative risk. The successful implantation of the Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system took place at University Hospital Henri Mondor in Créteil, France, on 7 June 2021, and was performed by Prof. Emmanuel Teiger and Dr. Romain Gallet de-Saint-Aurin with implantation time of 16 minutes. The Topaz device achieved complete correction of the tricuspid regurgitation, and the patient was discharged from hospital after four days and is returning to normal activity levels.
TRiCares Announces Successful First in Human Implantations of Minimally Invasive Topaz Tricuspid Heart Valve Replacement System PRESS RELEASE, July 5th 2021 For further information please contact: TRiCares SAS Helmut J. Straubinger, President and Chief Executive Officer Consilium Strategic Communications Matthew Cole, Chris Gardner T: +44 (0)20 3709 5700 2 | 3 tricares.com The second patient to benefit from this technology is an 86-year-old woman with torrential tricuspid regurgitation with a big coaptation gap between the leaflets of the tricuspid valve who also was not considered suitable for open heart surgery or a repair intervention.
The successful implantation of the Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system took place at Laboratoire du Centre Cardiologique du Nord in Saint-Denis, Paris, France on 28 June 2021, and was performed by Dr. Mohammed Nejjari and Dr. Julien Dreyfus with implantation time of 12 minutes. Again, the Topaz device achieved complete correction of the tricuspid regurgitation, and the patient was discharged from hospital after four days and is returning to normal activity levels. Both procedures were proctored by Prof. Dr. Hendrik Treede of the University Medical Centre in Mainz, Germany, and Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schäfer of Marien Hospital in Hamburg, Germany.
Building upon the success of these procedures, TRiCares is preparing a clinical study in the coming months to validate the value of its Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system for these types of patients, who until now have had no satisfactory treatment option. Prof. Teiger, Head of Cardiology at University Hospital Henri Mondor, commented, “I am pleased to have conducted this pioneering procedure with the Topaz tricuspid valve replacement system, through which we have achieved a successful life-saving outcome for a patient with no other viable treatment options.” Dr. Nejjari, interventional cardiologist at Laboratoire du Centre Cardiologique du Nord, commented, “The procedure is easy, intuitive and well controlled through the entire procedure, and it is remarkable how fast the patient recovered after the Topaz implantation.” Professor Dr. Treede, cardiac surgeon at the University Medical Centre in Mainz, who proctored both procedures, commented, “I am delighted to have overseen the successful first implantations of the Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system, which represents a significant advancement in the potential treatment options for patients with tricuspid regurgitation.”
Professor Dr. Schäfer, interventional cardiologist at Marien Hospital in Hamburg, who also proctored both procedures, commented, “These successful procedures demonstrate the ease of use and the controlled positioning of the Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system even in challenging patient anatomies.” Helmut Straubinger, CEO of TRiCares, commented, “I am very pleased to announce the successful first implantations of our Topaz tricuspid heart valve replacement system. I am proud of our team for developing an innovative solution which has the potential to benefit critically ill patients suffering from tricuspid regurgitation. These first results give us confidence as we look forward to a clinical study of Topaz in the coming months.”
Dr. Arturo Urrios
Author
Dr. Arturo Urrios
