Synthorx to Present at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
May 15 2019 - 5:15PM
Synthorx, Inc. (NASDAQ: THOR), a biotechnology company discovering
and developing optimized biologics for cancer and autoimmune
disorders, today announced company researchers will present
preclinical data demonstrating the potential safety and anti-tumor
effects of its lead product candidate, THOR-707, a “not alpha”
Synthorin™ of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for the treatment of solid
tumors at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Annual Meeting taking place May 31 – June 4 at McCormick Place,
Chicago, IL. Marcos Milla, PhD., chief scientific officer of
Synthorx, will present the company’s approach to utilizing its
first-of-its-kind Expanded Genetic Alphabet platform technology to
engineer IL-2 to improve its pharmacological profile.
The presentation, titled “THOR-707: Using synthetic biology to
reprogram the therapeutic activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2),”
describes the use of the Synthorx Expanded Genetic Alphabet
platform technology to design THOR-707, a recombinant IL-2 that
that is pegylated at one specific site, intended to block
engagement of the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor. In
preclinical models, the “not alpha” feature of THOR-707 prevents
proliferation of immunosuppressive CD4+ regulatory T cells as well
as activation of non-lymphoid cells that trigger the serious
complication of vascular leak syndrome (VLS) when IL-2 is used to
treat cancer patients.
The poster presentation will include data demonstrating
expansion of CD8+ T cells without eosinophilia (a measurement of
VLS) and durability of the CD8+ T cell expansion, regardless of
whether THOR-707 is administered every 2, 3 or 4 weeks. The
data also demonstrate that an anti-PD-1 antibody, when combined
with THOR-707, increases interferon-gamma (IFN‑γ) release from T
cell receptor-activated T cells, indicating the potential of this
combination to enhance anti-tumor effects. The durability of
these effects was demonstrated in a tumor model where re-challenged
animals initially cured with THOR-707 + anti-PD-1 were found to
reject additional challenges with tumor cells without subsequent
drug administration. These data support the establishment of
persistent anti-tumor memory T cell populations.
“Our preclinical data highlights the ways our Expanded Genetic
Alphabet platform technology shows the potential of significantly
improving both the safety profile and pharmacological properties of
IL-2,” said Dr. Milla of Synthorx. “Taken together, the favorable
pre-clinical attributes of THOR-707 suggest that this may provide a
product with prolonged immuno-stimulatory effects, clinically
meaningful anti-tumor activity, minimal regulatory T cell-driven
immunosuppression and significantly decreased risk for VLS coupled
with convenient dosing for the patient.” The company plans to file
its IND application for THOR-707 in the second quarter of 2019.
Details of the ASCO poster presentation are as follows:
Title: THOR-707: Using synthetic biology to
reprogram the therapeutic activity of interleukin-2
(IL-2)Presenter: Marcos E. Milla, Ph.D., Chief
Scientific Officer, SynthorxAbstract #:
2603Session: Developmental Immunotherapy and Tumor
ImmunobiologySession Date/Time: Saturday, June 1,
2019, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. CDTAuthors: M. E.
Milla, J. Ptacin, C. E. Caffaro, H. R. Aerni, L. Ma, L. Koriazova,
I. B. Joseph, L. K. ShawverA copy of the poster will be available
at the time of the presentation and archived on the Scientific
Publications page of the company’s website,
https://synthorx.com/scientific-publications/.
About SynthorxSynthorx, Inc. is a biotechnology
company focused on prolonging and improving the lives of people
with cancer and autoimmune disorders. Synthorx’s proprietary,
first-of-its-kind Expanded Genetic Alphabet platform technology
expands the genetic code by adding a new DNA base pair and is
designed to create optimized biologics, referred to as Synthorins.
A Synthorin is a protein optimized through incorporation of novel
amino acids encoded by the new DNA base pair that enables
site-specific modifications, which enhance the pharmacological
properties of these therapeutics. The company’s lead product
candidate, THOR-707, a variant of IL-2, is in development in
multiple tumor types as a single agent and in combination with an
immune checkpoint inhibitor. The company was founded based on
important discoveries in Dr. Floyd Romesberg’s lab at The Scripps
Research Institute. Synthorx is headquartered in La Jolla, Calif.
For more information, visit www.synthorx.com.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements about Synthorx as
that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements
in this press release that are not purely historical are
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
include, among other things, preclinical data or plans underlying
THOR-707 and the development of Synthorx’s product candidates.
Actual results could differ from those projected in any
forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors
include, among others, risks associated with the process of
discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and
effective for use as human therapeutics and operating as a
development stage company; Synthorx’s ability to develop, initiate
or complete preclinical studies and clinical trials for, obtain
approvals for and commercialize any of its product candidates;
changes in Synthorx’s plans to develop and commercialize its
product candidates; the potential for any future clinical trials of
THOR-707 or other product candidates to differ from preliminary or
expected results; Synthorx’s ability to raise any additional
funding it will need to continue to pursue its business and product
development plans; regulatory developments in the United
States and foreign countries; Synthorx’s reliance on key third
parties, including contract manufacturers and contract research
organizations; Synthorx’s ability to obtain and maintain
intellectual property protection for its product candidates; the
loss of key scientific or management personnel; competition in the
industry in which Synthorx operates; and market
conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date of this press release, and Synthorx assumes no
obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update
the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in
the forward-looking statements. Investors should consult all of the
information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk
factor disclosure set forth in the documents the company files with
the SEC available at www.sec.gov.
Investor Relations Contacts: Enoch Kariuki,
Pharm.D.Synthorx, Inc.ekariuki@synthorx.com858-750-4750
Christina TartagliaStern IR,
Inc.christina.tartaglia@sternir.com212-362-1200
Media Relations Contact:Lauren
FishCanale Communicationslauren@canalecomm.com619-849-5386
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