CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I August 09, 2023 ICullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on modality-agnostic targeted oncology therapies, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CLN-978 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL).
The study is an open-label, dose-escalation, dose-expansion, and first-in-human study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary efficacy of subcutaneously (SC)-administered CLN-978. The study will enroll adult patients with R/R B-NHL for whom there is no available approved standard therapy.
“Despite recent advances in treating B-NHL, there remains significant unmet medical need, particularly among patients with relapsed/refractory disease,” said Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Cullinan Oncology. “T cell engagers have shown clinical activity in this patient population, and CD19 is a well-validated target for B-cell malignancies. Based on preclinical evidence, we believe CLN-978 has a differentiated profile as it binds with very high affinity to CD19-expressing cells, even those with barely detectable levels of CD19. CLN-978 also offers patient-friendly administration and potentially reduced toxicity with an off-the-shelf treatment that is delivered subcutaneously. Collectively, these features may open up opportunities to investigate CLN-978 in additional CD19 mediated diseases. Advancing CLN-978 into the clinic is an important milestone for Cullinan Oncology, as it is now our fifth program in the clinic.”
ABOUT CLN-978
CLN-978 is a novel, highly potent, half-life extended CD19xCD3 T cell engager construct. CLN-978 contains two single-chain variable fragments (scFv), one binding with very high affinity the CD19 target on malignant cells and the other binding CD3 on T cells. While CLN-978 resembles the canonical BiTE format, it also contains a single-domain antibody (VHH) binding to human serum albumin (HSA). CLN-978 redirects and activates T cells to destroy CD19-expressing cancer cells via T cell mediated cytotoxicity.
CLN-978 has the potential to offer a convenient, off-the-shelf therapeutic option that may provide an alternative to CD19 CART cell therapies. High-affinity binding of CLN-978 to CD19 allows for increased potency against tumor cells expressing very low levels of CD19. An HSA-binding domain increases the serum half-life of CLN-978 and, with subcutaneous delivery, permits more patient-friendly dosing and potentially reduced toxicity.
CLN-978 has the potential to become a highly effective treatment option for patients across a range of B cell malignancies, including those who have relapsed on other CD19-directed therapies due to reduced CD19 target expression. CLN-978 is currently being evaluated as a novel treatment for B-NHL and has potential applicability across the entire spectrum of B cell mediated diseases.
About Cullinan Oncology
Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating new standards of care for patients with cancer. We innovate without borders to find the most promising clinic-ready cancer therapies, whether from our own discovery efforts or through exceptional engagement with our academic and industry partners. Anchored in a deep understanding of immuno-oncology and translational cancer medicine, we leverage our scientific excellence in small molecules and biologics to create differentiated ideas, identify unique targets, and select the optimal modality to develop transformative therapeutics across cancer indications. Powered by our novel research model, we push conventional boundaries from candidate selection to cancer therapeutic, applying rigorous early experimentation to fast-track only the most promising assets to the clinic and ultimately commercialization. As a result, our diversified pipeline is strategically built with assets that activate the immune system or inhibit key oncogenic drivers across a wide range of modalities, each with the potential to be the best or first in their class.
Our people possess deep scientific expertise, seek innovation openly, and exercise creativity and urgency to deliver on our promise to bring new therapeutic solutions to patients with cancer. Learn more about our Company at www.cullinanoncology.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
SOURCE: Cullinan Oncology
Post Views: 59
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I August 09, 2023 ICullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on modality-agnostic targeted oncology therapies, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CLN-978 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL).
The study is an open-label, dose-escalation, dose-expansion, and first-in-human study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary efficacy of subcutaneously (SC)-administered CLN-978. The study will enroll adult patients with R/R B-NHL for whom there is no available approved standard therapy.
“Despite recent advances in treating B-NHL, there remains significant unmet medical need, particularly among patients with relapsed/refractory disease,” said Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Cullinan Oncology. “T cell engagers have shown clinical activity in this patient population, and CD19 is a well-validated target for B-cell malignancies. Based on preclinical evidence, we believe CLN-978 has a differentiated profile as it binds with very high affinity to CD19-expressing cells, even those with barely detectable levels of CD19. CLN-978 also offers patient-friendly administration and potentially reduced toxicity with an off-the-shelf treatment that is delivered subcutaneously. Collectively, these features may open up opportunities to investigate CLN-978 in additional CD19 mediated diseases. Advancing CLN-978 into the clinic is an important milestone for Cullinan Oncology, as it is now our fifth program in the clinic.”
ABOUT CLN-978
CLN-978 is a novel, highly potent, half-life extended CD19xCD3 T cell engager construct. CLN-978 contains two single-chain variable fragments (scFv), one binding with very high affinity the CD19 target on malignant cells and the other binding CD3 on T cells. While CLN-978 resembles the canonical BiTE format, it also contains a single-domain antibody (VHH) binding to human serum albumin (HSA). CLN-978 redirects and activates T cells to destroy CD19-expressing cancer cells via T cell mediated cytotoxicity.
CLN-978 has the potential to offer a convenient, off-the-shelf therapeutic option that may provide an alternative to CD19 CART cell therapies. High-affinity binding of CLN-978 to CD19 allows for increased potency against tumor cells expressing very low levels of CD19. An HSA-binding domain increases the serum half-life of CLN-978 and, with subcutaneous delivery, permits more patient-friendly dosing and potentially reduced toxicity.
CLN-978 has the potential to become a highly effective treatment option for patients across a range of B cell malignancies, including those who have relapsed on other CD19-directed therapies due to reduced CD19 target expression. CLN-978 is currently being evaluated as a novel treatment for B-NHL and has potential applicability across the entire spectrum of B cell mediated diseases.
About Cullinan Oncology
Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating new standards of care for patients with cancer. We innovate without borders to find the most promising clinic-ready cancer therapies, whether from our own discovery efforts or through exceptional engagement with our academic and industry partners. Anchored in a deep understanding of immuno-oncology and translational cancer medicine, we leverage our scientific excellence in small molecules and biologics to create differentiated ideas, identify unique targets, and select the optimal modality to develop transformative therapeutics across cancer indications. Powered by our novel research model, we push conventional boundaries from candidate selection to cancer therapeutic, applying rigorous early experimentation to fast-track only the most promising assets to the clinic and ultimately commercialization. As a result, our diversified pipeline is strategically built with assets that activate the immune system or inhibit key oncogenic drivers across a wide range of modalities, each with the potential to be the best or first in their class.
Our people possess deep scientific expertise, seek innovation openly, and exercise creativity and urgency to deliver on our promise to bring new therapeutic solutions to patients with cancer. Learn more about our Company at www.cullinanoncology.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
SOURCE: Cullinan Oncology
Post Views: 59
