NEW HAVEN, CT, USA I November 10, 2014 I Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a poster presentation describing the results of a preclinical study of Kolltan’s product candidate, KTN0158, at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, in Atlanta, Georgia. Kolltan is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody-based drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The poster, titled “KTN0158, a Humanized Anti-KIT Monoclonal Antibody, Reduces Airway Eosinophilia in a Feline Model of Allergic Asthma,” was presented on November 8 and 9, 2014.
KTN0158 is a novel antibody designed to target the KIT RTK, a receptor shown to be expressed on a variety of cells, including mast cells. When KIT is bound by its ligand, known as stem cell factor (SCF), it activates a signaling cascade that leads to cell growth and survival. Based on in vitro analyses, KTN0158 is a potent inhibitor of SCF-induced KIT signaling and modulates SCF-mediated effects of degranulation and cytokine release in mast cells. Kolltan is pursuing potential development of KTN0158 in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and other diseases where KIT and mast cells have been implicated.
This preclinical study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Carol Reinero of the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine. The study found that in an experimental feline allergic asthma model, treatment with KTN0158 resulted in significantly reduced airway eosinophil percentages in both the early and late phase asthmatic responses. These data suggest that KTN0158 may modulate mast cell and eosinophil function and warrants further evaluation of KTN0158 as a treatment in mast cell-related diseases. Studies to investigate the potential benefit of KTN0158 in mast cell-related diseases and inflammation are planned.
“Based on the results of this study and our other preclinical findings, we determined that KTN0158 could represent a novel approach to treating mast-cell related inflammatory diseases in both chronic and acute settings,” said Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kolltan Pharmaceuticals. “These data and our ongoing IND-enabling preclinical safety studies support our plan to file an IND for KTN0158 in 2015.”
About Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
Kolltan, a privately held clinical-stage company, is focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody-based drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinases for the treatment of cancer and other diseases with significant unmet need. Kolltan’s founders and members of its management team have deep expertise and a proven track record in drug discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics, including drugs targeting kinases. Located adjacent to the Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut, Kolltan is working in close collaboration with the laboratory of Kolltan Co-Founder, Dr. Joseph Schlessinger, as well as the Yale medical and scientific community to bring important medicines to cancer patients and other patients with serious diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate, KTN3379, is a novel antibody designed to target the ErbB3 RTK that is in Phase 1 clinical development in adult patients with advanced solid tumors. In addition to KTN0158, the company has one additional preclinical program targeting the KIT RTK for oncology as well as a discovery pipeline consisting of product candidates directed at a range of RTK targets.
SOURCE: Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 128
NEW HAVEN, CT, USA I November 10, 2014 I Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a poster presentation describing the results of a preclinical study of Kolltan’s product candidate, KTN0158, at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, in Atlanta, Georgia. Kolltan is a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody-based drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The poster, titled “KTN0158, a Humanized Anti-KIT Monoclonal Antibody, Reduces Airway Eosinophilia in a Feline Model of Allergic Asthma,” was presented on November 8 and 9, 2014.
KTN0158 is a novel antibody designed to target the KIT RTK, a receptor shown to be expressed on a variety of cells, including mast cells. When KIT is bound by its ligand, known as stem cell factor (SCF), it activates a signaling cascade that leads to cell growth and survival. Based on in vitro analyses, KTN0158 is a potent inhibitor of SCF-induced KIT signaling and modulates SCF-mediated effects of degranulation and cytokine release in mast cells. Kolltan is pursuing potential development of KTN0158 in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and other diseases where KIT and mast cells have been implicated.
This preclinical study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Carol Reinero of the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine. The study found that in an experimental feline allergic asthma model, treatment with KTN0158 resulted in significantly reduced airway eosinophil percentages in both the early and late phase asthmatic responses. These data suggest that KTN0158 may modulate mast cell and eosinophil function and warrants further evaluation of KTN0158 as a treatment in mast cell-related diseases. Studies to investigate the potential benefit of KTN0158 in mast cell-related diseases and inflammation are planned.
“Based on the results of this study and our other preclinical findings, we determined that KTN0158 could represent a novel approach to treating mast-cell related inflammatory diseases in both chronic and acute settings,” said Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kolltan Pharmaceuticals. “These data and our ongoing IND-enabling preclinical safety studies support our plan to file an IND for KTN0158 in 2015.”
About Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
Kolltan, a privately held clinical-stage company, is focused on the discovery and development of novel antibody-based drugs targeting receptor tyrosine kinases for the treatment of cancer and other diseases with significant unmet need. Kolltan’s founders and members of its management team have deep expertise and a proven track record in drug discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics, including drugs targeting kinases. Located adjacent to the Yale Medical School in New Haven, Connecticut, Kolltan is working in close collaboration with the laboratory of Kolltan Co-Founder, Dr. Joseph Schlessinger, as well as the Yale medical and scientific community to bring important medicines to cancer patients and other patients with serious diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate, KTN3379, is a novel antibody designed to target the ErbB3 RTK that is in Phase 1 clinical development in adult patients with advanced solid tumors. In addition to KTN0158, the company has one additional preclinical program targeting the KIT RTK for oncology as well as a discovery pipeline consisting of product candidates directed at a range of RTK targets.
SOURCE: Kolltan Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 128
