On April 3, 2019 Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: JNCE), a clinical-stage company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer immunotherapies and predictive biomarkers, reported data on JTX-8064, its first tumor-associated macrophage program, at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA (Press release, Jounce Therapeutics, APR 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234535370]). The poster presentation includes preclinical data demonstrating the immunotherapeutic properties of JTX-8064 to reprogram immune-suppressive macrophages within the tumor microenvironment.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"Today, we presented the characterization of JTX-8064 and the preclinical data for this novel product candidate, demonstrating its potential in re-programming tumor-associated macrophages within the tumor microenvironment to enhance anti-tumor immunity. We believe that LILRB2 functions as an immune checkpoint for macrophages and have demonstrated differentiation from other macrophage-directed approaches," said Elizabeth Trehu, M.D., chief medical officer of Jounce Therapeutics. "New insights from our Translational Science Platform continue to inform JTX-8064 development and we expect to file an Investigational New Drug application and initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial later this year."
In a poster titled "Preclinical evaluation of JTX-8064, an anti-LILRB2 antagonist antibody, for reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages," Jounce researchers describe the preclinical evaluation of JTX-8064 including:
JTX-8064 is a specific and potent antagonist antibody of LILRB2 (leukocyte immunoglobulin like receptor B2; ILT4)
LILRB2 binds to its ligands (classical MHC I molecules [e.g. HLA-A, HLA-B] and non-classical MHC I molecules [e.g. HLA-G]) and maintains an immuno-suppressive state in macrophages. JTX-8064 blocks ligand binding to LILRB2 and induces an immune activating state in macrophages that may lead to enhancement of the anti-tumor immune response
Inhibiting LILRB2 induces pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and a unique transcriptional profile suggestive of an M1-like shift in human macrophages, which is distinct from macrophage-targeted mAbs CSF1R and TIM-3
The poster is available on the "Our Approach" section of the Jounce Therapeutics website at www.jouncetx.com.
About JTX-8064
JTX-8064 is an anti-Leukocyte Immunoglobulin Like Receptor B2 (LILRB2) antibody and is the first candidate to emerge from Jounce’s Translational Science Platform efforts that focuses on tumor-associated macrophages. Preclinical data presented at the 2019 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting supports the development of JTX-8064 as a novel immunotherapy to reprogram immune-suppressive macrophages and enhance anti-tumor immunity. JTX-8064 is currently in IND-enabling activities and Jounce anticipates filing an IND and initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial for JTX-8064 in 2019.