Hillstream BioPharma Announces Development of Proprietary Targeted Biologics, Knob Quatrabodies™ (HSB-1940) against PD-1, by combining Quatramers™ with OmniAb’s Picobodies™, via a Collaboration Agreement, against Novel, Unreachable and Undruggable
December 01 2022 - 8:47AM
Hillstream BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: HILS) (“Hillstream”, the
“Company”) today announced the development of proprietary targeted
biologics, Knob Quatrabodies™ (HSB-1940) against PD-1. Hillstream
signed separate collaboration agreements with a subsidiary of
OmniAb, Inc. (Nasdaq: OABI) (“OmniAb”) and with Minotaur
Therapeutics, Inc. (“Minotaur”) to advance Picobodies against
novel, unreachable and undruggable epitopes in high-value validated
targets starting with PD-1.
The technologies of Hillstream and Minotaur will be combined
under a previously disclosed license from OmniAb to discover,
develop and advance biotherapeutics against high-value validated
targets. Picobodies are antibody “knob” domains comprised of
cysteine-rich ultralong complementary determining region (CDR) H3
sequences of 30-40 amino acids, which have the potential to access
challenging epitopes better than full size antibodies can.
By combining Quatramers with their long half-life coated with a
PD-1 Picobody™ to create HSB-1940, Hillstream believes it could
more efficiently target novel epitopes with greater binding
affinity than approved biologics. Targeting PD-1 is a step toward
enabling Hillstream to enter the rapidly growing Immuno-oncology
(IO) therapeutics market with additional IO targets after
PD-L1.
Dr. Vaughn Smider, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of
Minotaur, stated, “We are excited to contribute our expertise to
help in combining OmniAb’s OmniTaur-derived ultralong CDR H3
antibody fragments and Hillstream’s tumor-targeting Quatramers to
discover and develop novel next-generation targeted cancer
therapeutics.”
Antibodies derived from mouse or human sources use the surface
formed by complementarity determining regions (CDRs) on the
variable regions of the heavy chain/light chain heterodimer, which
typically forms a relatively flat binding surface. Alternative
species, particularly camelids and bovines, provide a paradigm for
antigen recognition through novel domains which form the antigen
binding site. However, for camelids, heavy chain antibodies bind
antigen with only a single heavy chain variable region, in the
absence of light chains. Meanwhile, in bovines, ultralong CDR-H3
regions form an independently folding mini-domain, which protrudes
far out from the surface of the antibody and forms a “stalk and
knob” structure which is diverse in both its sequence and disulfide
patterns. The “knob” (Picobody) component can be expressed as an
independent antigen binding domain. At ~4-6 kDa, these are three
times smaller than a camelid “nanobody”, and are the smallest known
antibody fragment. These atypical antigen binding sites of bovines
potentially provide the ability to interact with different
antigenic determinants, particularly recessed or concave surfaces,
compared to traditional antibodies.
Randy Milby, Chief Executive Officer of Hillstream, stated, “The
Picobodies which OmniAb brings to this collaboration combined with
our Quatramers to create a novel and disruptive Knob Quatramer
platform will be a great addition to our portfolio starting with
HSB-1940. We are doubly excited that Dr. Vaughn Smider, a pioneer
in the discovery, engineering and understanding of these unique
proteins, will be leading Minotaur’s services. The Quatramer is a
key Hillstream platform which is now poised to create novel
therapeutics using “smart carriers” with multiple approaches for
enhancing targeted cancer immunotherapy.”
About Hillstream BioPharma, Inc.Hillstream
BioPharma, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing novel
therapeutic candidates targeting ferroptosis, an emerging new
anti-cancer mechanism resulting in iron mediated cell death for
drug resistant and devastating cancers. Hillstream’s most advanced
candidate is HSB-1216, an IMCD modulator, targeting a variety of
solid tumors. The active drug in HSB-1216 was found to be
efficacious in a clinical pilot study in Germany in devastating
cancers, including triple negative breast cancer and epithelial
carcinomas. Hillstream intends to initiate IND discussions with the
FDA in first half of 2023. Hillstream uses Quatramer™, our
proprietary tumor targeting platform, to enhance the uptake of
HSB-1216 in the tumor microenvironment with an extended duration of
action and minimal off-target toxicity. For more information,
please visit: www.hillstreambio.com.
About Minotaur TherapeuticsMinotaur
Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company developing unique
biotherapeutics for oncology and immunology. Minotaur is expert in
the use of the novel ultralong CDR H3 scaffold of OmniAb’s OmniTaur
bovine antibodies which allows unique targeting properties.
Minotaur has licensing and partnership arrangements with The
Applied Biomedical Science Institute and OmniAb on this emerging
therapeutic class and its underlying technologies.
About OmniAb, Inc.OmniAb, Inc.’s discovery
platform provides pharmaceutical industry partners access to
diverse antibody repertoires and high-throughput screening
technologies to enable discovery of next-generation therapeutics.
At the heart of the OmniAb platform is the Biological Intelligence™
(BI) of our proprietary transgenic animals, including OmniRat®,
OmniChicken® and OmniMouse®, that have been genetically modified to
generate antibodies with human sequences to facilitate development
of human therapeutic candidates. OmniFlic® (transgenic rat) and
OmniClic® (transgenic chicken) address industry needs for
bispecific antibody applications though a common light chain
approach, and OmniTaur™ (obtained in the acquisition of Taurus
Biosciences) features unique structural attributes of cow
antibodies for complex targets. We believe the OmniAb animals
comprise the most diverse host systems available in the industry
and they are optimally leveraged through computational antigen
design and immunization methods, paired with high-throughput single
B cell phenotypic screening and mining of next-generation
sequencing datasets with custom algorithms to identify fully human
antibodies with superior performance and developability
characteristics. An established core competency focused on ion
channels and transporters further differentiates our technology and
creates opportunities in emerging target classes. OmniAb antibodies
have been leveraged across modalities, including bispecific
antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and others. The OmniAb suite
of technologies span from BI-powered repertoire generation to
cutting edge antibody discovery and optimization offering a highly
efficient and customizable end-to-end solution for the growing
discovery needs of the global pharmaceutical industry.
Forward Looking StatementsCertain statements in
this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
may be identified using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,”
“forecast,” “estimated” and “intend” or other similar terms or
expressions that concern Hillstream’s expectations, strategy, plans
or intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on
Hillstream’s current expectations and actual results could differ
materially. There are several factors that could cause actual
events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not
limited to, clinical trials involve a lengthy and expensive process
with an uncertain outcome, and results of earlier studies and
trials may not be predictive of future trial results; our clinical
trials may be suspended or discontinued due to unexpected side
effects or other safety risks that could preclude approval of our
product candidates; risks related to business interruptions,
including the outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus, which could
seriously harm our financial condition and increase our costs and
expenses; dependence on key personnel; substantial competition;
uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; dependence upon
third parties; and risks related to failure to obtain FDA
clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations.
Investors should read the risk factors set forth in our Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2021 and our periodic reports filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the list of
factors presented here is considered representative, no such list
should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential
risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant
additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements included herein are made as
of the date hereof, and Hillstream does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly such statements to reflect subsequent
events or circumstances.
Investor Contact:
investorrelations@hillstreambio.com
Source: Hillstream BioPharma, Inc.
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