Nextpoint Therapeutics, Inc.

CD3 bispecific antibody developed to redirect T cell-mediated immunity toward B7-H7 expressing tumors, expanding monotherapy treatment possibility for a new patient population Company’s precision immunotherapy approach enables prospective identification of patients most likely to benefit from NPX372 with a defined clinical biomarker CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I September 05, 2024 I NextPoint Therapeutics , a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new class of precision immuno-oncology and tumor-directed therapeutics targeting the novel B7-H7 axis, today has unveiled NPX372, a novel T cell engager. NPX372 further expands NextPoint’s multi-modal focus on the emerging B7-H7 axis in cancer therapy. B7-H7, also known as HHLA2, is an emerging immunomodulatory receptor upregulated in various solid tumor types, including colorectal carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, and many others. Notably, this receptor is induced independently of PD-L1 or other B7 family members. Unlike other B7 family proteins that are expressed across a wide range of cell types, B7-H7 is primarily found on the epithelial cells of tumors, making it a unique and potentially specific target for tumor-directed therapies. “T cell engagers have shown immense potential, but to date their application in solid tumors has remained a formidable challenge. NPX372 represents a significant advancement, aiming to redirect T cell-mediated immunity with high specificity by modulating key biological components, potentially offering more effective monotherapy treatment options for a range of solid tumors,” said Tatiana Novobrantseva, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of NextPoint Therapeutics. NPX372 is a CD3 bispecific antibody with unique capabilities to redirect T cell-mediated cytotoxicity toward B7-H7-positive tumors. In addition to CD3 engagement, this antibody interacts with the B7-H7 immune axis to achieve added potency. Preclinical data highlight NPX372’s potent anti-tumor responses and a favorable safety profile at clinically relevant doses with no indication of cytokine release syndrome. This asset is part of NextPoint’s diverse portfolio of immunotherapies designed to target various tumor types. NextPoint is rapidly advancing the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for NPX372. “NPX372 represents a significant advancement in our pursuit of precision immunotherapy,” said Ivan Cheung, CEO of NextPoint Therapeutics. “As part of our ongoing immune checkpoint clinical programs, NPX267 and NPX887, we have developed a clinical biomarker for B7-H7 expression, which allows us to selectively target patients across various tumor types who may benefit from a potent T cell engager such as NPX372. This precision medicine approach allows us to potentially address solid tumors expressing B7-H7, tailoring treatments to those who will respond best. Our deep knowledge of B7-H7 biology drives our leadership in advancing innovative, transformative treatments that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of cancer patients.” About NextPoint Therapeutics NextPoint is launching a new world of precision immuno-oncology and tumor-targeting therapeutics through its leading scientific work on the novel B7-H7/HHLA2 axis. Our innovative approach integrates foundational science with a defined clinical biomarker to identify the right patient population for each B7-H7-directed therapy, so that we can deliver a new class of monotherapies for patients. Our team of proven drug developers is simultaneously advancing therapeutic approaches blocking the B7-H7 immune signaling pathway and utilizing the unique upregulation of B7-H7 in cancer as an anchor for tumor-targeting treatment modalities. To learn more, visit nextpointtx.com . SOURCE: NextPoint Therapeutics

Precision immunology therapies developed by the company are anticipated to offer significant advantages over existing treatments. Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A / Shutterstock. Precision immunology company Santa Ana Bio has announced a substantial funding injection of $168m through Series A and B financing rounds to propel the development of targeted therapies for inflammatory diseases. Recommended Buyer's Guides Buyer's Guide Leading Guide to Packaging Materials, Containers and Containment Services for the Pharmaceutical Industry Buyer's Guide Leading Guide to Compliance Software for the Pharmaceutical Industry Versant Ventures spearheaded the Series A round, with TPG’s Life Science Innovations fund and GV also contributing. The Series B round, amounting to $125m, was led by GV and saw participation from both existing and new investors, including Andreessen Horowitz Bio + Health, Access Biotechnology and RTW. The company utilises proteomic, transcriptomic and genomic methods to identify disease-specific subpopulations and targets that affect only the cells causing the disease, sparing healthy ones. This strategy aims to overcome the limitations of current biological treatments, such as patient heterogeneity, response durability and safety concerns. See Also: NPX-267 by NextPoint Therapeutics for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): Likelihood of Approval NPX-267 by NextPoint Therapeutics for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Likelihood of Approval Since its inception in 2022, Santa Ana has progressed three programmes, with clinical trials expected to commence in 2025. Each precision immunology therapy developed by the company targets the causal cells and is anticipated to offer significant advantages over existing and in-development treatments. The company’s SAB01 is designed to address toxicity issues by conditionally blocking c-Kit in the presence of an undisclosed anchor target found only on mast cells. SAB01 has demonstrated conditional activity against mast cells in vitro and in vivo, and will enter Phase I trials in chronic inducible urticaria next year. Another candidate, SAB03, is expected to enter Phase I trials in 2025 for several severe inflammatory conditions. The SAB05 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programme introduces an innovative antibody-glucocorticoid conjugate technology, enabling the safe use of glucocorticoids while avoiding the side effects typically associated with these drugs. Santa Ana CEO and board member Peter Emtage stated: “Precision medicines offer the ability to target defined cell types and pathways to disrupt the pathogenic biology driving disease. “By identifying pathogenic cell types and pathways, and leveraging our deep protein engineering capabilities including monoclonal, bi-specific antibodies and ADCs, we aim to expand the reach of biologics to patients across numerous inflammatory diseases.”

AbbVie will obtain the sole worldwide rights for the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of FG-M701. Credit: © AbbVie Inc. All rights reserved. AbbVie has made a licence agreement with FutureGen Biopharmaceutical to develop a next-generation therapy, FG-M701, for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recommended Buyer's Guides Buyer's Guide Leading Guide to Packaging Materials, Containers and Containment Services for the Pharmaceutical Industry Buyer's Guide Leading Guide to Clinical Packaging Companies in contract Manufacturing for the Pharmaceutical Industry The asset is currently in the preclinical development phase. A fully human monoclonal antibody, FG-M701 acts on TL1A, a clinically validated target in IBD, and is engineered to potentially offer efficacy and reduced dosing frequency. AbbVie will obtain the sole worldwide rights for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of FG-M701. AbbVie global head of discovery and research and senior vice-president Jonathon Sedgwick stated: “The prevalence of IBD continues to increase, and many people living with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease do not respond to current therapies. See Also: NPX-267 by NextPoint Therapeutics for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): Likelihood of Approval PF-07960613 by Pfizer for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections: Likelihood of Approval “AbbVie’s mission to raise the standard of care includes the pursuit of transformative therapies that help more patients living with autoimmune diseases achieve remission. We look forward to our collaboration with FutureGen in advancing the development of FG-M701 for the treatment of IBD.” FutureGen stands to receive upfront and near-term milestone payments worth $150m. The company is entitled to $1.56bn in payments on achieving clinical development, regulatory and commercial milestones. This sum is apart from the tiered royalty payments on net sales of the asset. FutureGen Biopharmaceutical (Beijing) founder and CEO Zhaoyu Jin stated: “We are very pleased to partner with AbbVie, a world leader in the development and commercialisation of innovative inflammation and autoimmune therapies. “We believe that AbbVie is a great partner, with the ability to apply their expertise and global scale to realising FG-M701’s therapeutic potential and rapidly advancing this therapy for patients suffering from IBD. The collaboration with AbbVie also highlights FutureGen’s ability to generate potential best-in-class product candidates with our proprietary Structure-based Targeted Evolution Platform (STEP) technology platform.” In June 2024 AbbVie announced that its RINVOQ (upadacitinib) is now indicated for treating polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in paediatric patients aged two years and above in the US.