- NL-201 enhances activity of checkpoint inhibitors and tumor-targeting antibodies and increases immune cell stimulation -
SEATTLE, Nov. 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc., “Neoleukin” (NASDAQ:NLTX), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing sophisticated computational methods to design de novo protein therapeutics, today announced the presentation of preclinical data on its lead immunotherapy candidate NL-201, an IL-2 and IL-15 agonist, at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s 35th Anniversary Annual Meeting (SITC 2020) taking place November 9 to November 14, 2020 in a virtual format.
The data presented highlights multiple experiments of NL-201 in combination with immunotherapies and demonstrates that NL-201 enhances activity of checkpoint inhibitors and tumor-targeting antibodies in preclinical models. NL-201 is a de novo agonist of the IL-2 and IL-15 receptors, designed to expand cancer-fighting CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells without any bias toward cells expressing the alpha receptor subunit (CD25). Neoleukin remains focused on its efforts to submit an Investigational New Drug Application for NL-201 in the fourth quarter of 2020 and has submitted a Clinical Trial Notification application for NL-201 in Australia for evaluation as a monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors to determine the safety and tolerability of various dosing regimens.
“These preclinical findings offer further compelling data to support the potential of NL-201 as a combination therapy approach to enhance oncology treatment modalities,” said Jonathan Drachman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Neoleukin. “While our first trials will be evaluating NL-201 as a monotherapy, these data support additional research to investigate the potential of this therapeutic in a combination treatment setting.”
Further details from the presentation are as follows:
Abstract: 576
NL-201, a de novo IL-2/IL-15 agonist, demonstrates enhanced in vivo antitumor activity in combination with multiple cancer immunotherapies.
- NL-201 enhances the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple tumor models: NL-201 enhanced the antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 + anti-CTLA-4 in a murine melanoma model and sensitized murine colon tumors to anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 therapy.
NL-201 enhances the antitumor activity of a tumor-targeting monoclonal antibody:
- Combination therapy with NL-201 and a tumor targeting monoclonal antibody significantly improved tumor growth inhibition in a murine melanoma model, potentially as a result of enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytoxocitity (ADCC) mediated by NK cell activation and infiltration in the tumor microenvironment.
- NL-201 exposure corresponds with potent lymphocyte stimulation: in vivo exposure of PEGylated NL-201 in non-human primates demonstrates potent CD8+ T and NK cell stimulation. Furthermore, PEGylated NL-201 shows greater antitumor activity than the unPEGylated precursor.
The poster presentation will be available on the Neoleukin website publications page: https://www.neoleukin.com/science/#pubs
About NL-201
NL-201 is a de novo receptor agonist of the IL-2 and IL-15 receptors, designed to expand cancer-fighting CD8 T cells and natural killer (NK) cells without any bias toward cells expressing the alpha receptor subunit (CD25). Previously presented preclinical data has demonstrated the ability of NL-201 to stimulate and expand CD8+ and NK cells at very low doses with minimal impact on immunosuppressive regulatory T cells.
About Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.
Neoleukin is a biopharmaceutical company creating next generation immunotherapies for cancer, inflammation and autoimmunity using de novo protein design technology. Neoleukin uses sophisticated computational methods to design proteins that demonstrate specific pharmaceutical properties that provide potentially superior therapeutic benefit over native proteins. Neoleukin’s lead product candidate, NL-201, is a combined IL-2 and IL-15 agonist designed to improve tolerability and activity by eliminating the alpha receptor binding interface. For more information, please visit the Neoleukin website: www.neoleukin.com.
Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, planned development activities and timelines and the therapeutic properties and potential of the company’s de novo protein design technology. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties related to the company’s cash forecasts, the company’s ability to advance its product candidates, the receipt and timing of potential regulatory submissions, designations, approvals and commercialization of product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, the timing of announcements and updates relating to the company’s clinical trials and related data market conditions and further impacts of COVID-19, that could cause actual results to differ materially from what Neoleukin expects. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect Neoleukin’s business and its financial results are detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other reports as filed with the SEC. Neoleukin undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Contacts:
Media
Julie Rathbun
206-769-9219
jrathbun@neoleukin.com
Investors
Solebury Trout
Brian Korb
646-378-2923
bkorb@troutgroup.com