Elpiscience Announces First Patient Dosed in US Phase I Clinical Trial of Anti-CD39 Monoclonal Antibody ES002 for Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors

SHANGHAI, China and SUZHOU, China and GERMANTOWN, Md., Jan. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Elpiscience Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Elpiscience”), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing next-generation cancer immunotherapies, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a U.S. multi-center, Phase I clinical trial, evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary clinical activity of ES002, the company’s proprietary anti-CD39 monoclonal antibody (mAb), that is being developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors (NCT05075564). Elpiscience received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) IND clearance for ES002 in September 2021.

“We are very pleased to see ES002 enter clinical trial testing in the United States,” said Steve Chin, CMO of Elpiscience. “This is an important milestone for Elpiscience as we seek to develop innovative and differentiated cancer immunotherapies. We look forward to announcing additional clinical milestones throughout 2022 as Elpiscience expands its pipeline with a steadfast commitment to advance at least one innovative molecule into the clinic each year.”

ES002 has demonstrated highly potent single-agent anti-tumor activity showing significant reduction in tumor size and weight in in-vivo pharmacology studies.

About ES002:
ES002 is an anti-CD39 mAb designed to promote anti-tumor immunity. CD39 is a key enzyme regulating the production of adenosine, a critical immune suppressor. By blocking CD39 function, ES002 also stabilizes pro-inflammatory extracellular ATP (eATP) and restores anti-tumor immunity within the tumor microenvironment. ES002 demonstrated highly potent single-agent anti-tumor activity in in-vivo pharmacology studies.

About Elpiscience:
Elpiscience is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovating and developing next-generation immunotherapy. The company has a robust pipeline of globally innovative molecules, covering wide range of targets in immuno-oncology. It has four molecules in clinical trials, including ES104, ES101, ES102, and ES002. Founded and managed by a team of biopharma industry leaders and scientists, Elpiscience is backed by renowned investors including, Lilly Asia Ventures, Hillhouse Capital, Hyfinity Investments, Greater Bay Area Homeland Development Fund, CDH, DYEE Capital and Cormorant Asset Management. Elpiscience endeavors to advance at least one innovative molecule into the clinic each year to benefit cancer patients worldwide.

Learn more at elpiscience.com

Investor inquiries:

Elpiscience, Inc.
Chief Financial Officer
John Craighead, Ph.D.
IR@elpiscience.com 

LifeSci Advisors, LLC
John Fraunces
jfraunces@lifesciadvisors.com

Media inquiries:

Candy Zhao
PR@elpiscience.com