Immatics Provides Update on IMA204 ACTengine® Cell Therapy Program Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment
September 10 2020 - 7:00AM
- IMA204 ACTengine® cell therapy
program directed at novel tumor target COL6A3 exon 6 prevalently
expressed at high copy numbers in tumor stroma across many solid
cancers
- Two affinity-enhanced TCR
candidates designed using Immatics’ proprietary XCEPTOR™ platform
demonstrates high specificity and potency; one of the candidates
shows full functionality also in CD4+ T cells without requirement
for a CD8 co-receptor
- Submission of IND application
to FDA for IMA204 remains on track for 2021
Tuebingen, Germany and Houston, Texas,
September 10, 2020 – Immatics N.V. (NASDAQ: IMTX;
“Immatics”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company active in
the discovery and development of T cell redirecting cancer
immunotherapies, today provided an update on its fourth ACTengine®
cell therapy program, IMA204. IMA204 is designed to address a novel
target, COL6A3 exon 6, which is highly expressed in the stroma of a
large number of solid tumors. Immatics will discuss the IMA204
preclinical data at the Hanson Wade CAR-TCR Digital Week on
September 14th.
Preclinical data
highlights:
- Exon 6 of the protein COL6A3 is
predominantly expressed in the tumor stroma of multiple solid
cancers including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer,
sarcoma, esophageal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, squamous
head & neck cancer, colorectal cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian
cancer and others with prevalence estimates in these cancer types
in the range of 40-80%.
- The tumor stroma target of IMA204
is an HLA-A*02-associated peptide derived from COL6A3 exon 6 with
high copy numbers per cell identified by Immatics’ proprietary mass
spectrometry platform, XPRESIDENT®.
- Over 90 different wild-type TCRs to
this peptide were systematically evaluated using Immatics’
platform, XCEPTOR™. After TCR characterization, engineering and
validation, two affinity-enhanced TCR candidates were
selected.
- Both TCR candidates demonstrated
promising preclinical properties including high avidity
(sub-nanomolar EC50) and specificity towards target-positive tumor
cells based on XPRESIDENT®-guided screening for off-target toxicity
and cross-reactivity.
- In additional preclinical studies done in close collaboration
with Jim Riley, Professor of Microbiology at the University of
Pennsylvania, both product candidates showed tumor eradication in
vitro and in vivo at physiological target expression levels.
- One of the two TCR candidates showed full CD8-independent
target recognition and engaged both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells without
the need for CD8 co-transduction. Based on recent studies Immatics
believes that the additional activation of CD4+ T cells is
potentially favorable for induction and maintenance of anti-tumor
responses against solid cancers.
- After completion of ongoing final evaluation of the target and
both TCR candidates, Immatics expects to submit an Investigational
New Drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for the IMA204 program in 2021.
Steffen Walter, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer
at Immatics, commented: “Solid tumors develop a complex
microenvironment where the tumor stroma plays a crucial role in
tumor initiation, progression and metastasis by providing a
protective defense layer against the body’s immune system. Taking
apart the tumor’s defense network with novel and highly potent TCRs
directed against the tumor stroma presents a promising opportunity
to address hard to treat solid cancers.”
About Immatics’ IMA204
ProgramImmatics’ fourth ACTengine® IMA204 program targets
the tumor stroma and is designed to disrupt the tumor
microenvironment. The rigid stroma and the immunosuppressive
microenvironment of solid tumors pose a significant challenge for T
cell accessibility and activity and targeting this compartment
could provide a novel approach for many solid tumors. Immatics has
selected two product candidates for its IMA204 program following
the initial discovery of a novel stroma-associated peptide-HLA
complex target using Immatics’ proprietary XPRESIDENT® platform and
the design of the right affinity-enhanced TCRs using its XCEPTOR™
platform. The target is present in high copy numbers in the tumor
stroma and is part of the COL6A3 exon 6 protein, an extracellular
matrix component that is expressed predominantly by tumor stroma
cells but to a far lower extent in a few healthy tissues.
About Immatics’ ACT
ProgramsImmatics’ clinical product class ACTengine® is a
personalized approach for patients with advanced solid cancers. The
patient’s own T cells are genetically modified to express a novel
proprietary TCR against the cancer target that is then infused back
into the patient. ACTengine® programs IMA201, IMA202 and IMA203 are
already in clinical studies for solid tumor indications, both in
the US and in Germany. Immatics’ latest proprietary ACTengine®
manufacturing processes are designed to generate cell product
candidates within a six day manufacturing window and to deliver
highly proliferative T cells, with the capability to infiltrate the
patient’s tumor and function in a challenging solid tumor
microenvironment. The process is designed to rapidly produce
younger, better-persisting T cells capable of “serial” killing
tumor cells in vitro. Immatics is further advancing the ACT concept
beyond individualized manufacturing with its product class ACTallo®
which is being developed to generate “off-the-shelf” cellular
therapies.
More information on the clinical trials can be
found at the following links: www.immatics.com/clinical-programs
and www.clinicaltrials.gov.
- ENDS - Notes to Editors
About ImmaticsImmatics combines
the discovery of true targets for cancer immunotherapies with the
development of the right T cell receptors with the goal of enabling
a robust and specific T cell response against these targets. This
deep know-how is the foundation for our pipeline of Adoptive Cell
Therapies and TCR Bispecifics as well as our partnerships with
global leaders in the pharmaceutical industry. We are committed to
delivering the power of T cells and to unlocking new avenues for
patients in their fight against cancer.
For regular updates about Immatics, visit
www.immatics.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and
LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking
StatementsCertain statements in this press release may be
considered forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
generally relate to future events or Immatics’ future financial or
operating performance. For example, statements concerning the
timing of product candidates and Immatics’ focus on partnerships to
advance its strategy are forward-looking statements. In some cases,
you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as
“may”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “estimate”,
“anticipate”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential” or “continue”, or
the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar
terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results
to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by Immatics and its management, are inherently
uncertain. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to
time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and
uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from current expectations include, but are not limited
to, various factors beyond management's control including general
economic conditions and other risks, uncertainties and factors set
forth in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Nothing in this presentation should be regarded as a representation
by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein
will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such
forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date they are made. Immatics undertakes no duty to update
these forward-looking statements.
- IMA204 ACTengine program update_English
- IMA204 ACTengine program update_German
For more information, please contact:
For Media Inquiries
Gretchen Schweitzer or Jacob Verghese, PhD
Trophic Communications
Phone: +49 89 2388 7731
immatics@trophic.eu
Investor Relations Contact
John Graziano
Solebury Trout
Phone: +1 646 378 2942
jgraziano@soleburytrout.com
Immatics N.V.
Anja Heuer
Corporate Communications
Phone: +49 89 540415-606
media@immatics.com
Jordan Silverstein
Head of Strategy
Phone: +1 281 810 7545
InvestorRelations@immatics.com
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