Apexigen Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for Sotigalimab (APX005M) for the Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Aug. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apexigen, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a new generation of antibody therapeutics for oncology, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to sotigalimab (APX005M) for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Sotigalimab, Apexigen’s lead therapeutic candidate, is a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class CD40 agonist, with unique epitope specificity and Fc receptor engagement for optimal therapeutic effect and tolerability. In an ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial, sotigalimab is being evaluated in advanced soft tissue sarcoma in combination with doxorubicin, a chemotherapy that is currently considered standard-of-care treatment.

“We are very pleased to receive Orphan Drug Designation for sotigalimab, an important step toward addressing the medical need that exists for patients with sarcoma,” said Xiaodong Yang, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. “There are currently limited treatment options available for patients with soft tissue sarcoma, so we are excited by the emerging data from our ongoing Phase 2 study in this indication, coupled with data across our broad clinical development program, that suggest sotigalimab may provide a superior clinical benefit. We will continue to advance our development plans to overcome outstanding challenges in oncology and work with the FDA to bring sotigalimab to patients as efficiently as possible.”

The FDA’s Office of Orphan Drug Products grants orphan status to support the development of medicines for underserved patient populations, or rare disorders, that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. Orphan drug designation qualifies the sponsor for various development incentives, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing, up to seven years of marketing exclusivity for the orphan indication and waiver of certain FDA fees.

Apexigen has also received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for sotigalimab for the treatment of esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer and for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

About Sotigalimab (APX005M)
Sotigalimab is a novel, humanized monoclonal antibody that stimulates the anti-tumor immune response. Sotigalimab targets CD40, a co-stimulatory receptor that is essential for activating both innate and adaptive immune systems. Binding of sotigalimab to CD40 on antigen presenting cells (i.e., dendritic cells, monocytes and B-cells) initiates a multi-faceted immune response bringing multiple components of the immune system (e.g., T cells, macrophages) to work in concert against cancer. Sotigalimab is currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of cancers such as esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers, melanoma, rectal cancer and sarcoma in various combinations with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a cancer vaccine. Additional information on clinical trials for sotigalimab can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov. 

About Apexigen
Apexigen is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a new generation of antibody therapeutics for oncology, with an emphasis on new immuno-oncology agents that may harness the patient’s immune system to combat and eradicate cancer. Sotigalimab and Apexigen’s other programs were discovered using Apexigen’s proprietary APXiMAB™ discovery platform. This platform has enabled Apexigen and its collaboration partners to discover and develop high-quality therapeutic antibodies against a variety of molecular targets, including targets that are difficult to drug with conventional antibody technologies. Seven product or product candidates discovered using APXiMAB are currently commercially available or in clinical development, either internally by Apexigen or by its licensees. For more information, please visit www.apexigen.com.

Investor Contact:
Bruce Mackle
LifeSci Advisors
+1-646-889-1200
bmackle@lifesciadvisors.com

Apexigen Contact:
Mark Nevins
Sr. Vice President, Business Development
Apexigen, Inc.
+1-650-931-6236
mnevins@apexigen.com