Hopewell Therapeutics to Present Novel Lipid Nanoparticle Data at ASGCT 27th Annual Meeting

Hopewell Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Woburn, Massachusetts, has announced that it will present preclinical data at the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 27th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD. The company, known for its focus on tissue-targeted lipid nanoparticles (ttLNPs) for delivering genomic medicines, will showcase advancements in its pulmonary, oncology, and vaccine programs.

At the conference, Hopewell will highlight findings through a poster presentation, emphasizing the potential of their proprietary ionizable lipid chemistry for non-viral delivery of genomic medicines. These systemically administered LNPs are designed to target specific tissues and cells across the body. This approach aims to revolutionize the delivery space for novel genomic therapies.

Hopewell’s product candidates integrate tissue-targeted LNPs with proprietary mRNA, encoding therapeutic proteins to address both rare and common diseases. Preclinical models have demonstrated effective systemic delivery to specific cell types in the lung and trachea, leading to robust protein expression in targeted areas. Notably, the company has achieved lung-specific expression of GM-CSF and reduced disease-specific biomarkers in a murine model of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), a rare disease currently lacking FDA-approved treatments.

Furthermore, Hopewell has seen promising results with their lead liver-targeting LNP, which delivers mRNA encoding bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTES). These have shown significant B-cell depletion in non-human primates and tumor volume reduction in hepatocellular carcinoma mouse models. For immune cell-targeted delivery, the company has developed LNPs that enhance delivery efficiency to T-cells, B-cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages in the spleen and lymph nodes. These LNPs have been effective in preclinical models for cancer vaccines and infectious disease vaccines.

Dr. Louis Brenner, Hopewell's President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the company's progress. He highlighted the importance of their ttLNP technology in achieving systemic delivery of genomic cargoes to specific cellular targets in the lung, spleen, and liver. Dr. Brenner emphasized the necessity of targeted delivery for complex therapeutic cargoes as the field of genetic medicines advances. The data presented at the ASGCT meeting underscores the potential therapeutic applications of Hopewell’s ttLNPs for patient benefit.

The poster presentation, scheduled for Thursday, May 9, 2024, will feature Dr. Xin Kai, the Director of Discovery Biology at Hopewell. The session, titled "Thursday Posters: Cancer - Immunotherapy and Cancer Vaccines," will provide an in-depth look at the abstract numbered 1273.

Hopewell Therapeutics is dedicated to discovering, synthesizing, and developing next-generation ttLNPs to bring genomic medicines to patients. The company aims to redefine the non-viral delivery space by designing LNPs for specific targeting of tissues and cells beyond the liver. With a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio and partnerships with leading industry companies, Hopewell is advancing its internal pipeline, initially focusing on lung diseases. They are also exploring the potential of their ttLNP platform in oncology, infectious diseases, rare genetic diseases, and neurological disorders.

As these developments unfold, Hopewell Therapeutics continues to position itself at the forefront of genomic medicine delivery, promising significant advancements for patients with unmet medical needs.