Presentation on MCSP-specific BiTE Antibody Selected by AACR for Press
Coverage
BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micromet, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of
novel, proprietary antibody-based products for cancer, inflammation and
autoimmune diseases, today announced that data on two antibodies developed
using BiTE(R) technology will be reported at the joint international
meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), National
Cancer Institute (NCI) and European Organization for Research and Treatment
of Cancer (EORTC) being held in San Francisco, CA, from October 22-26. The
new findings relate to the mode of action, target biology and therapeutic
window for two new BiTE antibodies in pre-clinical development.
BiTE antibodies are T cell recruiting antibodies designed to
transiently connect cytotoxic T cells with malignant cancer cells, which
has been shown to result in the eradication of cancer cells. The four
posters report on the EpCAM (CD326)-specific BiTE antibody MT110, and on a
novel BiTE antibody which targets melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate
proteoglycan (MCSP). MT110 is being developed for the treatment of a
variety of adeno and squamous cell carcinoma which overexpress EpCAM, while
the BiTE antibody which binds to MCSP is being developed for the treatment
of metastatic melanoma and other cancers expressing MCSP.
The first poster presentation shows that BiTE antibodies which target
the cancer associated antigen MCSP are highly active against melanoma cells
by recruiting T cells for efficient tumor cell lysis in vitro (abstract
A61). This poster has been selected for inclusion in AACR's press briefing
activities.
Data included in a second poster presentation suggest a key functional
role for EpCAM - the tumor associated antigen targeted by MT110 - in tumor
biology. In collaboration with Olivier Gires, Ph.D. at the University
Clinic of Munich in Grosshadern, Germany, it was discovered that EpCAM
signals into the cell nucleus via pathways known to control the expression
of proto- oncogenes (abstract C175). This establishes EpCAM as a signal
transducer of cancer cells and explains how EpCAM induces cell
proliferation and oncogene expression. EpCAM is found widely expressed on
human cancers and is also found on so called 'cancer stem cells' from
colon, pancreas, prostate and breast tumors.
In a third poster presentation, a BiTE antibody related to MT110 has
shown therapeutic activity in mice with very significant tumor inhibition
at well tolerated doses (abstract C270). These data suggest that
EpCAM-specific BiTE antibodies can distinguish between EpCAM expressed on
tumor cells and EpCAM that is expressed on healthy epithelial cells. The
mode of tumor cell lysis of MT110 was found to be largely dependent on the
pore-forming protein perforin, which is upregulated and then targeted by
cytotoxic T cells activated by BiTE antibodies targeted at EpCAM (abstract
C267).
"MT110 is expected to be the second BiTE antibody in clinical
development and our first BiTE antibody targeting solid tumors," commented
Patrick Baeuerle, the Chief Scientific Officer of Micromet. "With the BiTE
antibody binding to MCSP, we hope to address the high medical need of
patients suffering from melanoma, a disease where T cell-based therapies
have already shown activity. Moreover, the research reported supports our
understanding of the potent, highly specific and controlled mode of action
of BiTE antibodies."
All of these abstracts can be viewed on the AACR website at
http://www.aacr.org.
About Micromet, Inc. (http://www.micromet-inc.com)
Micromet, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel,
proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and
autoimmune diseases. Three of its antibodies are in clinical development.
MT103 (MEDI-538), the first antibody developed utilizing the BiTE(R)
technology platform to be clinically validated in Micromet's product
pipeline, is being evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment
of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. BiTE antibodies represent a new
class of antibodies that activate a patient's own cytotoxic T cells to
eliminate cancer cells. Micromet is developing MT103 in collaboration with
MedImmune, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca plc. The second clinical stage
antibody is adecatumumab (MT201), a human monoclonal antibody targeting
EpCAM expressing tumors. Adecatumumab is being developed by Micromet in
collaboration with Merck Serono in a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating
MT201 in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with
metastatic breast cancer. The third clinical stage antibody is MT293
(formerly D93), also known as TRC093, a first-in-class humanized monoclonal
antibody that inhibits angiogenesis and tumor cell growth by binding
cleaved collagen. MT293, which is currently being tested in a phase 1
clinical trial, is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and is being
developed for the treatment of patients with cancer and age- related
macular degeneration. In addition, Micromet has established a collaboration
with Nycomed for the development and commercialization of MT203, Micromet's
human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony
stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the
treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as
rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially
different from historical results or from any future results expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
include statements regarding the intended utilization of product
candidates, the conduct and results of future clinical trials, plans
regarding regulatory filings, future research, discovery of new product
candidates, and clinical trials, and partnering activities. Factors that
may cause actual results to differ materially include the risk that product
candidates that appeared promising in early research and clinical trials do
not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in larger-scale or later clinical
trials, the risks associated with regulatory processes, the risks
associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements,
and the risks associated with reliance on collaborative partners for future
revenues under the terms of its existing collaboration agreements, and for
further pre-clinical and clinical studies, development and
commercialization of product candidates. You are urged to consider
statements that include the words "appear," "may," "will," "would,"
"could," "should," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential,"
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words to be uncertain and forward-looking. These factors and others are
more fully discussed in Micromet's periodic reports and other filings with
the SEC, including the "Risk Factors" sections of such reports.
Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, speak only as of the date
made. Micromet undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
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events or otherwise.
SOURCE Micromet, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.micromet-inc.com
http://www.aacr.org/
CONTACT:
Christopher Schnittker, SVP & CFO, Micromet,
Inc., +1-240-752- 1421, christopher.schnittker@micromet-inc.com;
Investors, Susan Noonan, +1- 212-966-3650, susan@sanoonan.com;
Media, Andrea tenBroek, +1-781-684-0770, micromet@schwartz-pr.com
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