-- Studies highlight CCX4503, a unique small
molecule inhibitor of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1/PD-L1,
demonstrates anti-tumor efficacy in vivo ---- Company’s studies
also show CCR4 inhibition enhances effectiveness of checkpoint
inhibition in tumor models in vivo --
ChemoCentryx, Inc., (Nasdaq:CCXI), today announced upcoming
presentations on two programs featuring small molecule inhibitors
of important therapeutic targets in cancer. ChemoCentryx’s novel
small molecules – one which profoundly inhibits the PD-1/PD-L1
immune checkpoints, and another which targets the chemokine
receptor known as CCR4 – have both exhibited marked activity in
cancer models in vivo. The studies will be featured during
the 2018 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Tumor
Immunology and Immunotherapy Conference, November 27-30, 2018 in
Miami Beach, Florida.
Tumor Reduction by a Small Molecule Human PD-1/PD-L1
Inhibitor in a Human Melanoma / PBMC Co-implantation
Model
While FDA approved antibody-based therapies targeting the
Programmed cell Death-1 / Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1)
immune checkpoint axis have gained considerable attention and
success in human cancer immunotherapy, small molecule inhibition of
this same pathway could provide significant advantages over
antibody therapeutics.
In a poster presentation on November 29, ChemoCentryx
researchers will highlight a study of potential next generation
cancer therapy, novel small molecule inhibitors targeting
PD-1/PD-L1. ChemoCentryx’s unique molecule, CCX4503, exhibited
marked inhibition of the checkpoint interaction and downstream
signaling, as well as markedly reduced tumor growth in vivo. The
study findings demonstrate that the small molecule inhibitors
identified and advanced by ChemoCentryx may offer the potential for
effective anti-tumor therapy, and with greater ability to manage
the side effects associated with current anti-checkpoint
therapy.
C-C Chemokine Receptor 4 (CCR4) Antagonism Enhances the
Effectiveness of Checkpoint Inhibition in Mouse Tumor
Models
Chemokines and their receptors also influence many of the key
processes in cancer. CCR4 and its ligands have been found to be
highly expressed in multiple types of human tumors and are
associated with poor prognosis. CCR4 inhibition has been
demonstrated to reduce tumor growth in various mouse tumor
models.
In a poster presentation on November 29, ChemoCentryx
researchers will highlight a study assessing small molecule
inhibition of CCR4 to potentiate the effects of checkpoint
inhibitors in colon and pancreatic tumor models. Findings
illustrate how the CCR4 inhibitor CCX6239 enhanced the
effectiveness of anti-CTLA-4, demonstrating that targeting CCR4 may
be an effective clinical approach for combinatorial treatment with
checkpoint blockers in cancer therapy.
Separately, further validation of chemokine receptor inhibition
in cancer therapy was provided in a poster presentation given on
Friday, November 16 at the Society for Neuro-Oncology Annual
Scientific Meeting. ChemoCentryx’s novel CCR2 inhibitor, CCX872,
was highlighted in anti-PD-1 resistant glioma treatment models. In
findings presented by CCXI collaborators at the University of
Florida College of Medicine, CCX872 significantly increased median
survival as a monotherapy in murine glioma models, and further
increased median and durable overall survival when combined with
anti-PD-1, providing a basis on which this novel combination
treatment could progress toward human trials.
About ChemoCentryx
ChemoCentryx is a biopharmaceutical company developing new
medications targeted at inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and
cancer. ChemoCentryx targets the chemokine and
chemoattractant systems to discover, develop and commercialize
orally-administered therapies. ChemoCentryx is currently
focusing on its late stage drug candidates for patients with rare
diseases, avacopan (CCX168) and CCX140.
Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a
selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor, or C5aR.
Avacopan is in Phase III development for the treatment of
anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibody-associated vasculitis
(ANCA-associated Vasculitis). In clinical studies to date, avacopan
was shown to be safe, well tolerated and provided effective control
of the disease while allowing elimination of high-dose steroids,
part of the current standard of care. ChemoCentryx is
also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3
glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The
U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted avacopan
orphan-drug designation for ANCA-associated Vasculitis, C3G and
atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The European
Commission has granted orphan medicinal product designation
for avacopan for the treatment of two forms of ANCA-associated
Vasculitis: microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with
polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis), as well
as for C3G. Avacopan was also granted access to the European
Medicines Agency's (EMA) PRIority MEdicines (PRIME)
initiative, which supports accelerated assessment of
investigational therapies addressing unmet medical need.
The Company's other late stage drug candidate is CCX140, an
inhibitor of the chemokine receptor known as CCR2, which is
currently being developed for patients with focal segmental
glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a debilitating kidney disease. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration has granted CCX140 orphan-drug
designation for the treatment of FSGS.
ChemoCentryx's Kidney Health Alliance with Vifor
Pharma provides Vifor Pharma with exclusive rights
to commercialize avacopan and CCX140 in markets outside of the
U.S.
ChemoCentryx also has early stage drug candidates that
target chemoattractant receptors in other Inflammatory and
autoimmune diseases and in cancer.
Forward-Looking Statements
ChemoCentryx cautions that statements included in this
press release that are not a description of historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "will,"
"would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "intend," "predict," "seek," "contemplate,"
"potential," "continue" or "project" or the negative of these terms
or other comparable terminology are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These statements include the Company's
statements regarding the achievement of anticipated goals and
milestones, whether CCR4 inhibition will enhance the effectiveness
of checkpoint inhibition, whether small molecule inhibitors such as
CCX4503 will be an effective anti-tumor treatment and CCX872 will
be effective in combination with an anti-PD-1, and whether the
Company's drug candidates will be shown to be effective in ongoing
or future clinical trials. The inclusion of forward-looking
statements should not be regarded as a representation
by ChemoCentryx that any of its plans will be achieved.
Actual results may differ from those set forth in this release due
to the risks and uncertainties inherent in
the ChemoCentryx business and other risks described in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). Investors are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof, and ChemoCentryx undertakes
no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect
events or circumstances after the date hereof. Further information
regarding these and other risks is included under the heading "Risk
Factors" in ChemoCentryx's periodic reports filed with
the SEC, including ChemoCentryx's Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 12,
2018 and its other reports which are available from
the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and
on ChemoCentryx's website (www.chemocentryx.com) under
the heading "Investors." All forward-looking statements are
qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This
caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Contacts:
Susan M. KanayaExecutive Vice President,Chief Financial and
Administrative Officerinvestor@chemocentryx.com
Media:Stephanie Tomei408.234.1279media@chemocentryx.com
Investors:William Slattery, Jr., Burns
McClellan212.213.0006
bslattery@burnsmc.com
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