Compugen Announces Experimental Confirmation of Additional Methodology for Discovery of Cancer-Related Immune Checkpoints
December 02 2014 - 7:07AM
Business Wire
Additional predictive methodology designed
to discover novel targets for immunomodulation distinct from
B7/CD28-like proteins
Successful initial experimental results
reported for drug target candidate identified through new
methodology
Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN) announced today successful initial
experimental results for a novel immune checkpoint candidate
predicted in silico utilizing a methodology designed to discover
immunomodulators distinct from B7/CD28-like proteins. In July of
this year, the Company disclosed the prediction of four such
potential targets following the extension of its predictive
discovery capabilities for immunotherapy beyond the successful
initial focus on B7/CD28-like proteins. Testing of the additional
three candidates is ongoing.
The target candidate was predicted using a computational
approach that identifies proteins linked to tumor-associated
macrophage (TAM) biology. TAMs are found within the tumor
microenvironment and have an important role in promoting
progression and invasion of tumor cells, and in suppression of
anticancer immunity. Various pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies have begun to develop therapies targeting TAMs, and
clinical trials are at early stages.
Dr. Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO of Compugen, stated,
“There is a strong and growing interest in the biopharma industry
and the medical world to broaden the application of cancer
immunotherapy to additional cancer types and patient populations
through additional immune modulation approaches. Therefore, we are
pleased by this experimental validation of our ability to discover
additional types of immunomodulatory proteins to serve as target
candidates for cancer immunotherapy, utilizing a completely
different predictive methodology from the one we have successfully
employed for the discovery to date of eleven B7/CD28-like
proteins.”
The results, now being disclosed, demonstrate this novel
protein’s functional activity in an experimental system that models
the interaction of the immune system with cancer cells.
Specifically, these studies have shown that overexpression of this
protein in human melanoma cells inhibits the activity of
tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) which are known to play a
major role in anti-tumor immune responses. In addition, this
candidate showed expression on cancer cells and tumor immune
infiltrating cells, primarily TAMs, of various cancer types,
including lung, breast, liver, brain and gastric. The candidate
also showed expression in other malignancies, such as melanoma and
lymphoma. This expression data combined with its demonstrated
functional activity are highly supportive of the candidate’s
potential to serve as a novel target for cancer immunotherapy.
About Immunomodulatory Proteins and Immune
Checkpoints
Immunomodulatory proteins are proteins capable of modifying or
regulating one or more immune functions. Immune checkpoints,
including inhibitory receptors and ligands, are immunomodulatory
proteins, which are crucial for the maintenance of self-tolerance
(the prevention of autoimmunity) and for the protection of tissues
from damage during an immune response. These immune checkpoints are
"hijacked" by tumors to block the ability of the immune system to
destroy the tumor. Therapeutic blockade of immune checkpoints can
boost anti-tumor immunity, enabling the patient’s immune system to
recognize and attack the tumor cells, and mount durable anti-tumor
responses and tumor destruction. Checkpoint-blocking antibodies
have lately demonstrated impressive clinical benefits and long-term
survival, even for end-stage patients, raising hopes that this
novel approach will lead to effective therapeutic strategies and
valuable additions in the fight against cancer.
About Compugen
Compugen is a leading drug discovery company focused on
therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies to address important
unmet needs in the fields of immunology and oncology. The
Company utilizes a broad and continuously growing integrated
infrastructure of proprietary scientific understandings and
predictive platforms, algorithms, machine learning systems and
other computational biology capabilities for the in
silico (by computer) prediction and selection of product
candidates, which are then advanced in its Pipeline Program. The
Company's business model includes collaborations covering the
further development and commercialization of product candidates at
various stages from its Pipeline Program and various forms of
research and discovery agreements, in both cases providing Compugen
with potential milestone payments and royalties on product sales or
other forms of revenue sharing. Compugen’s wholly-owned U.S.
subsidiary located in South San Francisco is developing monoclonal
antibody therapeutic candidates against its novel drug targets. For
additional information, please visit Compugen's corporate website
at www.cgen.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
terminology such as “will,” “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,”
“believes,” and “intends,” and describe opinions about future
events and include statements related to the potential of a novel
immune checkpoint candidate, predicted in silico utilizing a
methodology designed to discover immunomodulators distinct from
B7/CD28-like proteins, to serve as a target for cancer
immunotherapy. These forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Compugen to be materially different
from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks
are: changes in relationships with collaborators; the inability to
reach mutually agreeable terms and conditions with respect to
potential new collaborations; the impact of competitive products
and technological changes; risks relating to the development of new
products; and the ability to implement technological improvements.
These and other factors are discussed in the "Risk Factors" section
of Compugen’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as other documents
that may be subsequently filed by Compugen from time to time with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any
forward-looking statements represent Compugen’s views only as of
the date of this release and should not be relied upon as
representing its views as of any subsequent date. Compugen does not
assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
unless required by law.
Compugen Ltd.Tsipi Haitovsky, +972-52-598-9892Global Media
Liaisontsipih@cgen.com
Compugen (NASDAQ:CGEN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
Compugen (NASDAQ:CGEN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024