NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kleo
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading company in the field of developing
next-generation, fully synthetic bispecific compounds designed to
emulate or enhance the activity of biologics, announced today that
it has entered into a research collaboration with South Korea -based Green Cross LabCell (GCLC),
a pioneer in the next generation of allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf"
natural killer (NK) cell therapies, to rapidly advance testing of
both advanced technology platforms in combination as a potential
therapy for COVID-19 patients.
Earlier this year, Kleo received approval from the US FDA to
proceed with an antibody recruiting molecule (ARM) NK cell
combination therapy clinical trial for the treatment of newly
diagnosed, multiple myeloma patients. The ARM in that trial targets
the cell surface protein CD38 and uses autologous cytokine induced
memory like (CIML) NK cells to kill tumor cells.
"Being able to rapidly develop novel COVID-19 therapies
highlights core attributes of Kleo's platform technology ‒ namely
speed and modularity," said Doug
Manion, MD, CEO of Kleo Pharmaceuticals. "As a physician
trained in infectious disease, I was on the forefront of the HIV
infection epidemic in the 1980s. We bear a responsibility to
advance our anti-COVID-19 program as rapidly as possible to
determine its utility in the fight. To that end, we are honored to
collaborate with GCLC, whose allogeneic NK cells are already in
late-stage clinical development in immuno-oncology and projected to
advance into the clinic for COVID-19 in the second half of this
year."
Kleo's ARM technology platform can rapidly develop fully
synthetic bifunctional molecules that redirect a patient's own
antibodies for therapeutic effect. In the context of a COVID-19
therapeutic, the ARM has multiple proposed mechanisms of action.
First, the ARM acts as a neutralizing antibody to block direct
binding on the virus to human cells. Second, the ARM enlists immune
effector cells to eliminate viral particles and/or infected cells.
Third, the ARM can produce a long-term vaccination effect by
activating and expanding immune memory cells.
About Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kleo Pharmaceuticals is a unique immuno-oncology company
developing next-generation bispecific compounds designed to emulate
or enhance the activity of biologics based on the groundbreaking
research of its scientific founder Dr. David Spiegel at Yale University. Similar
to complex biologic drugs, Kleo's compounds recruit the immune
system to destroy cancer cells, with the advantage of being smaller
and more versatile, leading to potentially improved safety and
efficacy over biologics. They are also much faster and more
efficient to design and produce, particularly against novel
targets. Kleo is advancing several drug candidates based on its
proprietary technology platforms, all of which are modular in
design and enable rapid generation of novel immunotherapies that
can be optimized against certain cancers, or enhance the properties
of existing immunotherapies. These include Antibody Recruiting
Molecules (ARMs), Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Enhancers (MATEs),
and Synthetic Antibody Mimics (SyAMs). Biohaven Pharmaceutical
Holding Company (NYSE:BHVN) and PeptiDream Inc. (Nikkei: PPTDF) are
investors in Kleo Pharmaceuticals. For more information visit
http://kleopharmaceuticals.com.
About Green Cross LabCell:
Green Cross LabCell (GCLC) is a cell therapy-specialized
company focusing on NK cell and stem cell therapeutics. GCLC is a
subsidiary of Green Cross Corporation, the
largest plasma protein product manufacturer in Asia. GCLC was founded in June
2011 as a spin-off from Green Cross Labs and has licensed NK
cell-based immunotherapy platform from Mogam Biotechnology
Institute.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and
uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current
expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All
statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in
this press release regarding the Company's plans and objectives,
expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking
statements. The use of certain words, including the words
"estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate,"
"will," "plan," "could," "may" and similar expressions are intended
to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
statements are made as of this date and the Company does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Maureen McEnroe, CFA (Investors)
212-375-2664
mmcenroe@tiberend.com
Ingrid Mezo (Media)
646-604-5150
imezo@tiberend.com
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SOURCE Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.