On June 3, 2020 Maverick Therapeutics, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company pioneering conditionally active bispecific T cell targeted immunotherapies, announced pipeline updates for its robust set of Conditional Bispecific Redirected Activation (COBRA) programs at the Jefferies Virtual Healthcare Conference taking place June 2-4, 2020 (Press release, Maverick Therapeutics, JUN 3, 2020, View Source [SID1234570575]).
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By nature of its elegant and innovative design, the COBRA platform is the most mature bispecific T cell engaging platform in its class that can safely target solid tumors with highly specific and potent activity. COBRA molecules are prodrugs selected to bind to specific targets, which may be expressed in both tumor and healthy tissue. However, COBRAs are engineered to take advantage of the tumor’s unique microenvironment for T cell activation; triggering T cell mediated killing only at the site of the tumor while sparing damage to patients’ healthy tissues.
"As we continue to advance our pipeline, we look forward to initiating the clinical development of our lead first-in-class COBRA programs, MVC-101 and MVC-280, both of which have generated promising pre-clinical data designed to validate the COBRA mechanism of action and be predictive of translation to patients. Our pipeline reflects our single focus on developing potent and conditionally active T cell engaging therapies for solid tumor cancers. Beyond our two lead programs, we have also generated compelling in vivo data for two additional COBRA molecules," said Jim Scibetta, Chief Executive Officer, Maverick Therapeutics. "The first patient who is safely and effectively treated for a solid tumor cancer with any form of T cell therapy, whether CAR T cell therapy or redirected T cell engagers like our COBRAs, will serve as a major breakthrough in the field of cancer immunotherapy. For us at Maverick, this is an incredibly important and humbling mission."
"Although evidence of anti-tumor activity has been observed in patients with solid cancers, the full potential of T cell engaging therapies against solid tumor cancers continues to be hindered by unacceptable toxicity," said Jim Vasselli, M.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Maverick Therapeutics. "Underpinning the pre-clinical development of COBRA technology is Maverick’s commitment to using gold standard in vivo and in vitro models to maximize our understanding of the molecules. We are encouraged by the early results generated by these first two programs and are excited to continue development towards the clinic."
MVC-101 Is a Highly Potent COBRA Targeting Tumors that Express EGFR
Maverick Therapeutics’ lead program candidate, MVC-101, is a proprietary COBRA molecule designed to target Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a protein expressed on both malignant and healthy tissues. MVC-101 regressed established human tumors in several preclinical models. Exposures of MVC-101 at efficacious relative to tolerated doses in safety studies demonstrates an increased therapeutic index compared to standard T cell engagers. MVC-101 is designed to be a universal solution for patients with EGFR expressing solid tumor cancers. EGFR is expressed on a wide range of solid tumor cancers, including but not limited to colorectal, head & neck, renal, pancreatic, cervical and non small cell lung cancers. Maverick expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial in Q1 2021.
MVC-280 Is a Highly Potent COBRA Targeting Tumors that Express B7H3
Maverick Therapeutics’ second program candidate, MVC-280, is a proprietary COBRA molecule designed to target B7H3 (CD276). B7H3 is expressed in a broad range of malignant and healthy tissues, similar to EGFR. MVC-280 regressed established tumors in several preclinical models. It is cross-reactive to its target protein expressed on mouse tissues, creating an opportunity to measure both efficacy and relative safety in the same preclinical model and use that data to calculate a therapeutic index. MVC-280 is designed to be a universal solution for patients with B7H3 expressing solid tumor cancers. B7H3 is expressed on a wide range of solid tumor cancers, including but not limited to prostate, renal, triple negative breast, head & neck, ovarian and urothelial cancers. Maverick expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial in H2 2021.
About the COBRA Therapeutics Platform
Maverick Therapeutics’ COBRA platform is the most mature conditionally active bispecific T cell engaging platform designed to safely target a broad range of solid tumors with highly specific and potent activity while limiting on-target toxicities in normal tissues. By nature of its highly innovative design, the COBRA platform reflects a novel approach to T cell engaging immunotherapies where T cell activation and resulting cell killing only take place where it is needed – in tumors. This unique design delivers the long sought after trifecta in cancer care; high specificity, high potency and reduced toxicity.