NGM Expands Oncology Portfolio with First Immuno-Oncology Development Candidate, NGM707, a Novel Dual Antagonist Antibody Inh...
October 19 2020 - 7:00AM
NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NGM) (Nasdaq: NGM), a biotechnology
company focused on discovering and developing transformative
therapeutics for patients, today announced the expansion of its
oncology portfolio with its first immuno-oncology development
candidate, NGM707, a novel dual antagonist antibody that inhibits
Immunoglobulin-like transcript 2 (ILT2) and Immunoglobulin-like
transcript 4 (ILT4). NGM707 joins NGM120, a first-in-class
antagonistic antibody that binds glial cell-derived neurotrophic
factor receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) and inhibits growth
differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) signaling, in NGM’s oncology
portfolio. NGM120 is in an ongoing Phase 1a/1b trial in patients
with cancer and cancer anorexia/cachexia syndrome (CACS).
ILT2 and ILT4 receptors expressed on myeloid cells in the tumor
microenvironment are implicated in suppressing anti-tumor immune
responses and may represent checkpoints that enable tumors to evade
immune detection. Suppressive myeloid cells enriched with ILT2 and
ILT4 receptors are upregulated in certain cancer types1-5, while
ILT2 is also expressed on natural killer (NK) cells, B cells and a
subset of highly cytolytic T cells. Of note, ILT2 and ILT4 are
upregulated on macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of certain
cancer patients that are non-responders to T cell checkpoint
inhibitor therapy and, therefore, may serve as T cell checkpoint
inhibitor resistance mechanisms6. Reversing myeloid suppression, or
myeloid reprogramming, represents a promising new therapeutic area
of immuno-oncology.
NGM scientists have spent several years researching members of
the leukocyte Ig-like receptor (LILR) family of immunosuppressive
receptors, including ILT2 and ILT4. NGM707 is designed to attempt
to improve patient immune responses to tumors by inhibiting both
the ILT2 and ILT4 receptors. In preclinical studies of NGM707, NGM
has demonstrated that blockade of ILT4 reverses myeloid cell immune
suppression, while blockade of ILT2 promotes NK and CD8+ T cell
killing of tumor cells and activates macrophage phagocytosis of
tumor cells. In addition, preclinical studies of NGM707 have shown
that the dual blockade of ILT2 and ILT4 acts synergistically to
reverse suppression of Fc receptor signaling.
“NGM707 represents another example of NGM’s core strength in
deeply interrogating human biology, identifying the most promising
targets and engineering tailored biologics to advance potentially
transformative medicines for patients,” said David J. Woodhouse,
Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at NGM. “As ILT4 inhibition
continues to gain interest as a potentially important anti-tumor
strategy, our research suggests that NGM707’s novel dual blockade
of ILT4 and ILT2 may yield enhanced anti-tumor advantages. We look
forward to advancing NGM707 into the clinic next year and providing
further updates on our myeloid reprogramming strategy.”
NGM707 was discovered by NGM under its strategic collaboration
with Merck.
Dr. Woodhouse commented, “Merck recently presented encouraging
findings from an early clinical trial evaluating its
investigational anti-ILT4 therapeutic candidate, MK-4830. We are
working closely with Merck, given their expertise in
immuno-oncology, to determine how to best apply NGM707’s dual
anti-ILT2/anti-ILT4 mechanism, enrich our mutual understanding of
stromal biology and maximize the potential of myeloid checkpoint
inhibition, with the goal of extending the benefits of
immunotherapy to as many cancer patients as possible.”
About NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
NGM is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and
developing novel therapeutics based on scientific understanding of
key biological pathways underlying liver and metabolic diseases,
retinal and inflammatory diseases and cancer. We leverage our
biology-centric drug discovery approach to uncover novel mechanisms
of action and generate proprietary insights that enable us to move
rapidly into proof-of-concept studies and deliver potential
first-in-class medicines to patients. At NGM, we aspire to operate
one of the most productive research and development engines in the
biopharmaceutical industry, with multiple programs in clinical
development. Visit us at www.ngmbio.com for more information.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters
that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Words such as “may,” “plans,” “planned,” “implicate,”
“promising,” “look forward,” “goal,” “designed to,” “suggests,”
“aspire,” “advance,” “potential,” “potentially” and similar
expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing
future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to
identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those
related to: the therapeutic potential and potential benefits of
NGM707, including NGM707’s potential to improve patient immune
responses to tumors by its inhibiting both the ILT2 and ILT4
receptors (also referred to as a novel dual blockade of ILT2 and
ILT4); statements about the possible activity of ILT2 and ILT4 in
the tumor microenvironment and the possible benefits of inhibiting
their receptors, including anti-tumor advantages; implications of
the potential therapeutic advantages of reversing myeloid
suppression or myeloid reprogramming; the planned Phase 1 clinical
trial of NGM707 and the anticipated timing thereof; NGM’s planned
R&D Day on December 9, 2020; the potential of NGM120 to treat
cancer and cancer anorexia/cachexia syndrome; NGM’s ability to
advance potentially transformative medicines for patients; NGM’s
goal to extend the benefits of immunotherapy to as many cancer
patients as possible; and other statements that are not historical
fact. Because such statements deal with future events and are based
on NGM’s current expectations, they are subject to various risks
and uncertainties, and actual results, performance or achievements
of NGM could differ materially from those described in or implied
by the statements in this press release. These forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including,
without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with the
costly and time-consuming pharmaceutical product development
process and the uncertainty of clinical success, including risks
related to failure or delays in successfully initiating, enrolling
or completing clinical studies; the risk that NGM’s ongoing or
future clinical studies in humans may show that NGM707 and/or
NGM120 are not tolerable and effective treatments for cancer or
CACS patients or that the effects of inhibiting both the ILT2 and
ILT4 receptors are otherwise different than anticipated; the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has adversely affected, and could
materially and adversely affect in the future, NGM’s business and
operations, including NGM’s ability to timely supply, initiate,
enroll and complete its ongoing and future clinical studies; the
time-consuming and uncertain regulatory approval process; NGM’s
reliance on third-party manufacturers for NGM707, NGM120 and its
other product candidates; the sufficiency of NGM’s cash, cash
equivalents and short-term marketable securities and need for
additional capital; and other risks and uncertainties affecting NGM
and its development programs, as well as those discussed in the
sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in NGM’s
quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020
and future filings and reports that NGM makes from time to time
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except
as required by law, NGM assumes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements or to update the reasons if actual
results differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements.
Investor
Contact:Alex Schwartzir@ngmbio.com |
Media
Contact:Liz
Melonemedia@ngmbio.com |
1. Tirosh et al., Science, 20162. Li et al., Nat Genet, 20173.
Puram et al., Cell, 20174. Azizi et al., Cell, 20185. Lambrechts et
al., Nat Med, 20186. Sade-Feldman et al., Cell, 2018
NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:NGM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
NGM Biopharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:NGM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024