Positive Phase I Results for Cantargia's CAN10 Antibody

Cantargia, a biotechnology firm, has reported positive developments in its phase I clinical trial for the antibody CAN10. The trial is progressing smoothly, with the first four dosage groups completing their treatment without any safety issues. The antibody has shown to bind effectively to IL1RAP on immune cells in a dose-dependent manner, aligning with preclinical predictions.

Göran Forsberg, Cantargia's CEO, expressed satisfaction with the trial's progress, particularly the safety and receptor binding data, and is eager for further evaluation in healthy subjects before moving on to patient studies. The CAN10 antibody is designed to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with systemic sclerosis and myocarditis being the primary targets. The phase I clinical trial is initially focused on administering increasing doses of CAN10 to healthy subjects as a single dose, followed by multiple dosing in psoriasis patients, with safety as the primary endpoint.

The first four dose groups have completed their treatment phase, showing no safety concerns, and the fifth group has started. Receptor occupancy studies indicate that a majority of IL1RAP molecules on immune cells are binding CAN10 at initial dose levels, which is consistent with preclinical findings. Biomarker samples are currently being analyzed to confirm the blocking of IL-1 and IL-36 stimulation of immune cells, with initial results expected in the second quarter of 2024. Patient studies for psoriasis are anticipated to commence in the second half of 2024.

Cantargia is a company that develops antibody-based treatments for severe diseases, with a focus on IL1RAP, a protein implicated in various cancers and inflammatory conditions. Their main program involves the antibody nadunolimab (CAN04), which is being clinically studied, primarily in combination with chemotherapy, for pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer. The antibody CAN10, which blocks IL1RAP signaling differently from nadunolimab, is being developed to address serious autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

CAN10 has the unique ability to inhibit signaling via IL-1, IL-33, and IL-36, which could be beneficial in treating several inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. Preclinical models have shown that a CAN10 surrogate antibody significantly reduced inflammation and fibrosis in myocarditis and countered the deterioration of cardiac function. It also inhibited disease progression in systemic sclerosis, psoriasis, and other conditions. The phase I clinical trial for CAN10 is currently underway, with initial data expected in 2024.