Monotherapy activity with PD-L1-targeting MT-6402 in Head and Neck Cancer; Unique pharmacodynamic effects with CTLA-4 targeting MT-8421 in on-going phase I study
Monotherapy Activity with MT-6402 in Low-PD-L1 Relapsed/Refractory SCHNN Patients (N=8)
MT-8421 Induces Unique Pharmacodynamic Effects
AUSTIN, Texas, March 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Molecular Templates, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTEM, “Molecular Templates,” or “MTEM”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary targeted biologic therapeutics, engineered toxin bodies (“ETBs”), to create novel therapies with potent differentiated mechanisms of action for cancer, today provided an update on its programs.
Eric Poma, PhD., Chief Executive and Chief Scientific Officer of MTEM, stated, “ETBs represent a new approach to oncology drug development that continue to show unique biology and monotherapy activity in heavily pre-treated patients. We are particularly excited about the monotherapy activity observed with our MT-6402 program in patients with head and neck cancer.”
Company Highlights
MT-6402 (PD-L1 ETB)
The Part A dose escalation of the phase I study for MT-6402 has been completed with no Grade 4 or Grade 5 drug-related adverse events observed to date.
In the Part A dose escalation, 10 patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) were treated at doses of 63, 83, or 100 mcg/kg. Two of these patients were not evaluable for the cycle 1 dose-limiting toxicity (“DLT”) period or for efficacy because of early progression and came off study after receiving only one or two doses of MT-6402, respectively. Of the remaining eight head and neck cancer patients, the best responses observed were as follows: three had a partial response (“PR”) (two unconfirmed) and a fourth patient had evidence of tumor regression. All four patients had progressed on their previous therapies after multiple lines of treatment including checkpoint antibodies. Additional details on each of these participant’s clinical profile and response to the investigational treatment are provided below.
The three other HNSCC patients enrolled in the Part A dose escalation had stable disease of 6, 4, and 2 months, respectively, before disease progression or study discontinuation. One patient progressed at the end of cycle 2. Of these 8 patients, only one patient (the patient with stable disease through 6 cycles) had a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (“TPS”) greater than 50%.
“We are very excited to see objective responses in heavily pre-treated, checkpoint-experienced, head and neck cancer patients, a setting with high unmet medical need,” said Eric Poma. “Current checkpoint monotherapy in I/O-naïve head and neck cancer patients has a ~15% response rate. Here, in patients who have progressed on checkpoint therapy, we believe we are seeing preliminary evidence of monotherapy activity of long duration and in patients refractory to checkpoint therapy. The partial responses observed to date were in patients with low PD-L1 expression and also showed concomitant increases in cytokines associated with T-cell activation that are not seen with other checkpoint therapies. We believe these data demonstrate a new and potentially best-in-class approach to targeting the PD-1-PD-L1 axis.”
“MT-6402 appears generally well-tolerated at the 63 and 83 mcg/kg doses with no Grade 4 or Grade 5 adverse events and no instances of CLS seen at any dose,” said Dr. Maurizio Voi, Chief Medical Officer of Molecular Templates. “The irAE profile of MT-6402, including the asymptomatic high sensitivity troponin elevations, appears to be consistent with that seen with other checkpoint therapies.” The Part B dose expansion portion of the phase I study in patients with high PD-L1 is ongoing.
MT-8421 (CTLA-4 ETB)
MT-0169 (CD38 ETB)
Research and Collaboration
Previously Announced Process to Explore Strategic Alternatives
Previously, Molecular Templates announced that it has retained Stifel, Nicolaus & Company to assist Molecular Templates in initiating a comprehensive evaluation of strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, potential financing/recapitalization opportunities, the sale of all, or part, of the company, or a merger, or other strategic transactions. A timetable for completion of this strategic review process has not been set, and there can be no assurance that this strategic review will result in any completed transaction.
About Molecular Templates
Molecular Templates is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of targeted biologic therapeutics. Our proprietary drug platform technology, known as engineered toxin bodies, or ETBs, leverages the resident biology of a genetically engineered form of Shiga-like Toxin A subunit to create novel therapies with potent and differentiated mechanisms of action for cancer.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Molecular Templates disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements and claims the protection of the Act’s Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release, including, but not limited to those regarding strategy, future operations, the Company’s ability to execute on its objectives, prospects, plans, future clinical development of the Company’s product candidates, any implication that the preliminary results, interim results, or the results of earlier clinical trials or ongoing clinical trials will be representative of the results of future or later clinical trials or final results, the potential benefits, safety or efficacy and any evaluations or judgements regarding the Company’s product candidates, [the results of any strategic process which are inherently uncertain at the present time] and future execution of corporate goals. In addition, when or if used in this press release, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “continue”, “anticipate,” “potential”, “believe,” “estimate,” “appears”, “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to Molecular Templates may identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors including, but not limited to the following: the continued availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms, whether Molecular Templates’ cash resources will be sufficient to fund its continuing operations; the results of MTEM’s ongoing clinical studies and its collaboration activities with BMS, the ability to effectively operate MTEM, and those risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Molecular Templates’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 and any subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Molecular Templates specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Grace Kim
grace.kim@mtem.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82557fa8-2b5b-4168-91a5-86b6398d092c
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/317e7bb1-dbea-4d97-a9c1-ca10f72615d6
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