Rakuten Medical to Highlight Interim Data from Phase 1b/2 ASP-1929 Photoimmunotherapy Trial in r/m HNSCC

Rakuten Medical, Inc., a prominent global biotechnology company specializing in precise, cell-targeting photoimmunotherapy through its Alluminox™ platform, has announced a virtual R&D Day scheduled for June 20, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET/10:00 am PT. The event will focus on recent advancements and updates in the company’s clinical and business endeavors.

The highlight of the event will be a presentation by Dr. Ann M. Gillenwater, a respected Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Gillenwater will discuss the updated safety and efficacy findings from an interim evaluation of Rakuten Medical's ongoing open-label Phase 1b/2 clinical study. This study, identified as ASP-1929-181/NCT04305795, explores the combination of ASP-1929 photoimmunotherapy with anti-PD-1 therapy in treating first-line recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. These significant updates will also be featured in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024.

Rakuten Medical's executive team will share additional key updates regarding their development programs, including new studies and commercial progress in Japan. A live question and answer session will follow the presentations, allowing participants to engage directly with the management team. However, it is important to note that practicing healthcare professionals and patients are not permitted to attend the event.

Rakuten Medical is dedicated to advancing cancer treatment through its Alluminox™ platform, an investigational technology that leverages photoimmunotherapy. The platform includes a drug component, comprising a targeting moiety conjugated with dyes that bind selectively to cell surfaces, and a device component that uses light to activate the drug locally. This activation triggers rapid and selective necrosis of targeted cells by disrupting their membrane integrity. Pre-clinical data suggest that therapies developed with the Alluminox platform may also activate both local and systemic immune responses due to the immunogenic death of targeted cancer cells and/or the elimination of immunosuppressive cells within the tumor microenvironment. Currently, Alluminox therapies are approved only in Japan, with ongoing efforts to achieve regulatory approvals in other regions.

Rakuten Medical’s mission is to conquer cancer by rapidly delivering innovative treatments to patients worldwide. Headquartered in the United States, the company operates offices in six countries, including Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Switzerland, and India.

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