Idera Pharmaceuticals Announces Cancer Immunotherapy Regimen With Intratumoral IMO-2055 Demonstrated Potent and Systemic Anti-Tumor Activity in Preclinical Models
In the presentation at the AACR meeting, Idera scientists summarized the results of several studies of IMO-2055 alone and in combination with ipilimumab in well-established preclinical models of bladder, colon and lung cancer. Results showed that intratumoral injections of IMO-2055 inhibited the growth of treated and distant tumors, as evaluated by tumor volume and histology. Compared to monotherapy with either agent, the combination regimen involving intratumoral injections of both agents demonstrated increased and sustained inhibition of treated and distant tumor growth. In addition, there were statistically significant increases in cytotoxic T cells against two antigens (AH1 and β-gal) expressed in treated and distant tumors, respectively, for the combination therapy versus monotherapy with either agent.
"In these preclinical models, intratumoral administration of a TLR 9 agonist enhanced the activity of a checkpoint inhibitor by inducing significantly greater anti-tumor immune responses against directly treated tumors and distant tumors representing models of metastatic cancer," said
"In addition to our ongoing and planned clinical development programs in genetically defined forms of B-cell lymphoma and rare diseases, Idera's immuno-oncology research holds the promise of advancing cancer treatment for patients and driving value for the Company," said
The presentation, entitled "Intratumoral injection of IMO-2055, a novel Toll-like receptor 9 agonist, with ipilimumab induces a systemic tumor-specific immune response," is available on Idera's website at: http://www.iderapharma.com/our-science/key-presentations-and-publications. Ipilimumab is approved by the
About Toll-like Receptors and Idera's Immuno-Oncology Research Program
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in the innate immune system, the body's first line of defense against invading pathogens, as well as damaged or dysfunctional cells including cancer cells. The innate immune system is also involved in activating the adaptive immune system, which marshals highly specific immune responses to target pathogens or tissue.
Cancer cells may exploit regulatory checkpoint pathways to avoid being recognized by the immune system, thereby shielding the tumor from immune attack. Checkpoint inhibitors such as agents targeting CTLA-4 or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) are designed to enable the immune system to recognize tumor cells. In this setting, a TLR 9 agonist may enhance the anti-tumor immune response by activating TLR signaling.
Based on the company's proprietary chemistry-based discovery platform, Idera has designed and developed two synthetic oligonucleotide-based TLR 9 agonists, IMO-2055 and IMO-2125. In completed clinical trials, systemic administration of IMO-2055 was generally well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with other drugs in more than 300 patients with various types of cancers. In addition, systemic administration of IMO-2125 was generally well tolerated in about 80 patients with hepatitis C. Idera is currently conducting further preclinical research to evaluate the potential of IMO-2055 and IMO-2125 to enhance the anti-tumor activity of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy.
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Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's strategy, future operations, collaborations, intellectual property, cash resources, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "may," "could," "should," "potential," "likely," "projects," "continue," "will," and "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Idera cannot guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by its forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include: whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials such as the preclinical data described in this release will be indicative of the results that will be generated in future clinical trials; whether products based on Idera's technology will advance into or through the clinical trial process on a timely basis or at all and receive approval from the
CONTACT: Investor and Media ContactsRobert Doody Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications 484-639-7235 rdoody@iderapharma.comJim Baker Executive Director, Corporate Affairs 617-679-5516 jbaker@iderapharma.com