23andMe to Update on Immuno-oncology Programs at ESMO 2024

23andMe Holding Co., a prominent player in the genetics and biopharmaceutical sector, has unveiled plans to present significant research findings at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 scheduled in Barcelona, Spain. The company will highlight its advancements through three poster sessions focused on 23ME-00610, an anti-CD200R1 antibody, and two on 23ME-01473, an anti-ULBP6 monoclonal antibody.

The presentations will feature preliminary clinical data, particularly efficacy outcomes, for patients with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma and those exhibiting high tumor microsatellite instability or high tumor mutational burden, as part of the Phase 2a segment of an ongoing Phase 1/2a clinical trial for 23ME-00610. Additionally, the analysis of an exploratory tissue-based biomarker, CD200, will be discussed.

Previous Phase 2 data, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in June, highlighted the continued safety and tolerability of 23ME-00610 monotherapy. Notably, it showed preliminary evidence of clinical benefit in patients with neuroendocrine and ovarian cancers, including a confirmed partial response in a pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer patient. Early data also suggested CD200 could serve as a potential tissue-based biomarker.

On the preclinical front, 23andMe will present data on the 23ME-01473 program. A presentation on the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial for 23ME-01473, which commenced in March 2024, will also be part of the event. The antibody targets soluble ULBP6, a molecule released by cancer cells to foster an immunosuppressive environment. 23ME-01473 is enhanced to allow NK cells to efficiently kill ULBP6-expressing cancer cells, presenting a promising therapeutic avenue.

The company’s research is grounded in data from its extensive proprietary database of human genetic and health information, which includes contributions from over 15 million genotyped customers. About 80% of these contributors consent to participate in research, enabling 23andMe to combine this de-identified genetic information with billions of health data points to uncover novel therapeutic targets.

The detailed schedule for the poster sessions at ESMO 2024 includes the presentation of the Phase 1/2a dose escalation and expansion study of 23ME-01473 for patients with advanced solid malignancies, and an analysis of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of 23ME-00610 in patients with high tumor mutational burden or microsatellite instability. Another session will delve into the potential of 23ME-01473 to restore anti-tumor NK cell function through specific receptor activation.

23ME-00610 is designed to inhibit the interaction between CD200R1 and CD200, an axis critical for maintaining immune tolerance. By blocking this interaction, the antibody aims to reverse immune suppression and enhance the immune system's ability to target cancer cells.

Similarly, 23ME-01473 focuses on blocking soluble ULBP6, aiming to restore the immune recognition and attack on cancer cells. Enhanced to boost NK cell activity, this antibody represents another potential therapeutic breakthrough identified through 23andMe's genetic research.

23andMe continues to leverage its unique database to identify and develop new cancer therapies. The company's comprehensive approach to combining genetic data and health information positions it at the forefront of personalized medicine, aiming to create more effective treatments based on individual genetic profiles.