Chemomab Therapeutics Showcases CM-101 Data for Treating Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis at EASL 2024 and Gordon Conference

Chemomab Therapeutics Ltd. (Nasdaq: CMMB) recently shared encouraging data regarding their primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) program at the Annual Congress of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 2024 in Milan, Italy. The biotechnology company, recognized for developing treatments for fibro-inflammatory diseases, presented two pivotal scientific posters showcasing the potential of their monoclonal antibody, CM-101.

The first poster at EASL highlighted an ex vivo translational assay designed to examine CM-101's anti-fibrotic efficacy in liver disease patients. Specifically, this study utilized a hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation assay derived from patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The findings revealed that serum from these patients activated HSCs, which are crucial in liver fibrosis, and this activation was significantly diminished following CM-101 treatment. A protein signature generated from CCL24-activated HSCs successfully predicted PSC disease presence and severity. These insights are anticipated to aid in characterizing CM-101’s anti-fibrotic effects in PSC clinical trials by serving as a translational tool.

In the second poster, researchers provided a detailed proteomic profiling study of PSC patients. This study applied machine learning techniques to develop a protein signature model that accurately predicted PSC presence and severity, correlated with the Enhanced Liver Function (ELF) biomarker score. The analysis pinpointed key proteins linked to PSC progression and showed that elevated CCL24 levels were associated with cirrhosis in PSC patients. These findings underscore the therapeutic value of targeting CCL24 in managing PSC.

Chemomab’s CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Adi Mor, expressed enthusiasm about these novel findings. He emphasized the importance of the ex vivo translational assay, which confirmed that serum from patients with liver fibrosis activates HSCs. The reduction of HSC activation by CM-101 indicates the potential of CCL24 inhibition to attenuate this activation. Furthermore, the proteomics and machine learning-based PSC protein signature model has potential as a biomarker for monitoring and assessing drug activity in CM-101’s ongoing and future clinical trials.

Additionally, a presentation at the Gordon Research Conference on Chemotactic Cytokines also highlighted preclinical studies. These studies reinforced the crucial role of CCL24 in fibro-inflammatory pathways in liver diseases like PSC. Chemomab’s CCL24-neutralizing antibody CM-101 was shown to block these pathways, thereby reducing inflammation and fibrosis.

These presentations collectively bolster the clinical rationale behind CM-101’s development for PSC, a rare and often fatal liver disease with no current effective treatment options. The data presented at these conferences provide compelling evidence for CM-101’s potential to modify disease progression in PSC, supporting its ongoing clinical development.

Chemomab’s approach to targeting CCL24 presents a promising strategy in treating severe fibro-inflammatory diseases. They have reported positive outcomes from previous clinical trials, including a Phase 2a trial for liver fibrosis in NASH patients and a study in severe lung injury patients. The Phase 2 trial in PSC has completed patient enrollment, with topline data expected by mid-2024, marking a significant milestone in this therapeutic area.

In summary, Chemomab’s innovative research and promising clinical data underscore the potential of CM-101 to become a transformative treatment for PSC and potentially other fibro-inflammatory conditions.