| 2 min read
Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
2:00
NEW YORK & LEXINGTON, Mass.—The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Agenus Inc. have announced their selection of three monoclonal antibody checkpoint modulators (CPMs) that Agenus will advance into preclinical development. The two product candidates are part of Agenus recent acquisition of 4-Antibody AG, which, in collaboration with Ludwig Cancer Research, developed the compounds.
 
Working together, the three organizations plan to advance the portfolio of CPMs as single agents and in combinations, which may include combinations with the company’s anti-cancer vaccine and other agents.
 
“The collaboration with 4-Antibody allowed us to rapidly advance antibodies into development,” Jonathan Skipper, executive director of Technology Development at Ludwig Cancer Research, said in a press release. “We are now planning clinical studies to evaluate novel combinations of these antibodies. Ludwig has been at the forefront of translational research in immuno-oncology for several decades. Our ongoing relationship with Agenus is a good example of our broader strategy to advance cancer therapy.”
 
Immune checkpoints exist to modulate immune system activity, such as preventing overactive immune responses, but they can also be hijacked by cancer cells in order to defend tumors against attack. The three compounds being advanced consist of two GITR agonists and a CTLA-4 antagonist, which target cell-surface checkpoint proteins that control immune responses. Antibodies that bind to PD-1 and CTLA-4 and antagonize their activity have been found to override the control mechanism, enabling the immune cells to surmount the cancer cells’ defenses. Ludwig Cancer Research, Agenus and 4-Antibody AG also have programs underway for the discovery and development of other immune checkpoint modulator antibodies, including OX40 agonists and LAG-3, TIM-3 and PD-1 antagonists.
 
“GITR, a checkpoint protein on T-lymphocytes, plays an important role in amplifying specific cellular immune responses, including those against tumors. We are encouraged to have identified high-quality agonist antibodies for this very competitive target, something that has proven difficult for many other companies,” Robert B. Stein, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Agenus, commented in a statement. “Furthermore, it is rational to combine CPMs such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 antagonists with anti-cancer vaccines, and we are collaborating on an on-going Phase 2 trial exploring Prophage and Yervoy (CTLA-4 antagonist) in patients with metastatic melanoma. Intelligently designed translational studies may improve the odds of success for our CPMs and accelerate their clinical development.”
 
“The Retrocyte Display1 technology developed by 4-Antibody over the last decade has allowed us to create attractive CPM antibodies directed against key checkpoint targets,” said Robert Burns, Ph.D., CEO of 4-Antibody AG. “By combining our know-how with Agenus’ immunotherapy development expertise, we expect to propel these candidates through preclinical and clinical development.”
 
 
SOURCE: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research press release

About the Author

Related Topics

Loading Next Article...
Loading Next Article...
Subscribe to Newsletter

Subscribe to our eNewsletters

Stay connected with all of the latest from Drug Discovery News.

Subscribe

Sponsored

A black mosquito is shown on pink human skin against a blurred green backdrop.

Discovering deeper insights into malaria research

Malaria continues to drive urgent research worldwide, with new therapies and tools emerging to combat the parasite’s complex lifecycle and global burden.
Three burgundy round and linear conformations of oligonucleotides are shown against a black background.

Accelerating RNA therapeutic testing with liver microphysiological platforms

Researchers can now study oligonucleotide delivery and efficacy in a system that models a real human liver.
A 3D-rendered illustration of a eukaryotic cell highlighting organelles such as the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and cytoskeletal structures in pink and purple tones.

Shining light on the subcellular proteome

Discover how innovative proteomics tools help researchers peer into once inaccessible organelles, allowing for new targets for drug discovery and development.
Drug Discovery News March 2025 Issue
Latest IssueVolume 21 • Issue 1 • March 2025

March 2025

March 2025 Issue

Explore this issue