KAHR Announces Publication of Preclinical Data Showing Monotherapy and Combination Therapy Potential of its Investigational Anti-CD47 Fusion Protein USA – English USA – English

JERUSALEM, March 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — KAHRa clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company developing novel dual-targeting protein therapies, today announced the publication of preclinical data supporting the development of DSP107, a potential experimental CD47x41BB fusion protein designed to activate both innate and adaptive immune systems, as monotherapy and in combination for the treatment of cancer.

The paper, titled “DSP107 combines inhibition of CD47/SIRPα axis with activation of 4-1BB to trigger cancer immunity“, was published in the Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research and authored by scientists from the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), led by Edwin BremerPh.D., Professor in the Department of Hematology/ Immunohematology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands in collaboration with KAHR scientists.

The preclinical studies were designed to assess the potential for clinical development of DSP107 as monotherapy and in combination with the standard anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In these studies, it was shown that:

• DSP107 alone or in combination with rituximab significantly increased macrophage- and PMN-mediated phagocytosis and trogocytosis, respectively, of cultured DLBCL cells;
• DSP107 increased T cell activation by costimulatory 4-1BB signaling only upon co-binding to CD47, which supports DSP107’s targeted dual mechanism of action;
• In a DLBCL mouse model, treatment with DSP107 significantly inhibited tumor growth;
• DSP107 had a favorable safety profile in cynomolgus monkeys, with no detectable anemia even at the highest dose.

“The mainstay of treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma is chemotherapy combined with rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody,” Professor Bremer explained. “However, some patients are refractory to this treatment or will develop resistance and relapse with a poor prognosis. We believe our results provide early support for the development of DSP107 as a potential monotherapy and in combination with rituximab for refractory DLBCL or DSP107 may have the potential to enable specific and localized activation of the innate and adaptive immune system against cancer cells.”

Yaron PeregPh.D., President and CEO of KAHR, added, “We believe this scientific publication supports our development of DSP107 as a novel dual-targeted immunotherapy agent for difficult-to-treat cancers. We are encouraged by the preclinical data that point to a mechanism of action supporting our two clinical programs: Phase 1b clinical study of DSP107 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome and the phase 1/2 study of DSP107 as monotherapy and in combination with an anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, in patients with tumors solid progress.

About DSP107
DSP107 is a CD47x41BB targeting compound that simultaneously binds cancer cells and immune cells. Specifically, DSP107 binds and inhibits CD47, an immune checkpoint protein overexpressed in many types of cancer that allows the tumor to evade innate immune attack. Simultaneously, DSP107 binds to 41BB on T cells, thereby stimulating their activation. Consequently, DSP107 on the one hand weakens the tumor defenses and on the other hand leads to the development of an effective local response of innate and adaptive immunity. These activities lead to targeted immune activation through macrophage and T-cell mediated tumor destruction.

About KAHR
KAHR is developing novel dual-targeting fusion protein therapies designed to simultaneously activate the innate and adaptive immune systems and localize this response to the tumor microenvironment. KAHR’s lead product candidate, DSP107, is a CD47x41BB targeting compound. DSP107 is being tested in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors and in a Phase 1b clinical trial in blood cancers. KAHR’s preclinical pipeline includes DSP502, a fusion protein targeting TIGITxPD1, and DSP216, a fusion protein targeting HLA-GxCD47. For more information, please visit kahrbio.com.

contacts:

Investors
Chuck Padala
LifeSci Advisors
+1 917-741-7792

Media
Tsipi Haitovsky
Global Media Liaison
KAHR
+972-52-598-9892
[email protected]

SOURCE KAHR Medical