Data presented at AACR 2024 show EpiTAC activity is greater than standard of care in multiple preclinical tumor models

EpiTACs drive EGFR degradation independent of EGFR mutational status and can overcome resistance mechanisms that arise with standard of care

SAN MATEO, CA, USA I April 8, 2024 I EpiBiologics, a preclinical stage company advancing new bispecific antibody therapeutics for extracellular protein degradation, is presenting data today on its EpiTAC protein degraders in oncology demonstrating robust in vivo anti-tumor activity and survival benefit. EpiTAC bispecific antibodies leverage cell-surface degrader receptors enriched in disease tissue to selectively degrade membrane and extracellular targets and address significant unmet needs.

These data are being presented this morning at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024 in poster presentation #1866, “Discovery of mutation-independent EGFR degrading bispecific antibodies that suppress tumor growth in preclinical tumor models” with Jon Sitrin, Ph.D., Head of Translational Science for EpiBiologics as lead author.

Current cancer treatments targeting EGFR often yield limited benefits due to target-related toxicities and reduced effectiveness in patients with acquired resistance. Recognizing the importance of improving therapeutic outcomes, EpiBiologics tested the efficacy of its novel EpiTACS on this oncogenic driver.

“Our proof-of-concept data demonstrate that EpiTAC activity is greater than standard of care in multiple preclinical tumor models. EpiTAC degradation of EGFR is mutation-independent and can overcome resistance mechanisms. These data motivate us to develop new and clinically meaningful therapies,” said Shyra Gardai, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of EpiBiologics.

Poster Presentation Highlights

  • EpiTACs are bispecific antibodies with a target binding arm and degrader binding arm that together localize degradation of extracellular and membrane targets to disease tissue, sparing normal tissue and increasing efficacy
  • Novel EpiTACs were rapidly selected and tested using the EpiAtlas of 270+ tumor- and tissue-specific degraders, including transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligases, chemokine/cytokine receptors and tissue-enriched internalizing receptors
  • EpiTACs drove robust in vitro tumoricidal activity in colorectal cancer (CRC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) models, independent of KRAS or EGFR mutational status
  • In vivo tumor models demonstrated EpiTACs degraded mutant EGFR and disrupts downstream signaling, suppressing tumor growth and increasing survival beyond osimertinib standard of care

“We believe EpiTACs are a promising new modality, especially for difficult-to-drug targets,” said Ann Lee-Karlon, Ph.D., President and CEO of EpiBiologics. “Our modular bispecific antibodies coupled with our EpiAtlas allow us to rapidly screen and manufacture EpiTACs that drive deep anti-tumor responses. We’re committed to advancing EpiTACs for diverse targets in oncology and other disease areas as we move quickly toward the clinic.”

About EpiBiologics

EpiBiologics is advancing a next-generation protein degradation pipeline and platform that targets membrane and extracellular proteins. EpiBiologics was founded on pioneering work from scientific founder Dr. Jim Wells of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The Company’s proprietary EpiTAC platform is a modular bispecific antibody system that enables targeted degradation of disease-driving membrane and extracellular proteins in a tissue-specific manner. Preclinical anti-tumor data support the innovative EpiTAC approach to extracellular protein degradation as the company moves toward the clinic. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, EpiBiologics is backed by leading healthcare investors and aims to develop first-in-class and best-in-class targeted therapies across multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, neurodegeneration and metabolism. For more information, please visit epibiologics.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

SOURCE: EpiBiologics