Alligator CEO Provides Snapshot Of Tumor-Directed IO Pipeline
Executive Summary
Following a deal, worth potentially $700m plus, signed in 2015 with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Biotech, Swedish biotech Alligator Biosciences AB is well placed to drive its clinical pipeline. During the Biotech Showcase, CEO Per Norlén outlined to Scrip the current status of the pipeline and its plans moving forward, which include having five clinical programs in place by the end of 2019.
With programs designed for tumor-directed immunotherapy, focusing on immunostimulatory receptors and aimed at providing long-lasting protection against cancer, Swedish biotech Alligator Bioscience AB, according to CEO Per Norlén, has enough money to enable it to progress five clinical programs to Phase II proof of concept. That is the inflexion point at which it ideally will seek pharma partners to further develop the programs.
Alligator Bioscience AB CEO Per Norlen speaks to Scrip
EBD Group & Scrip
Alligator’s project portfolio includes the clinical and preclinical drug candidates ADC-1013, ATOR-1015, ATOR-1017, and ALG.APV-527, plus a number of early-stage research projects. All drug candidates target are designed for tumor-directed immunotherapy, are directed to immunostimulatory receptors and can provide long-lasting protection against cancer.
ADC-1013 is an agonistic antibody that targets CD40, a receptor on antigen-presenting dendritic cells in the immune system, and is being developed for the treatment of metastatic cancer. ADC-1013 was out-licensed in 2016 to Janssen Biotech Inc., which is responsible for all continued clinical development and the second and ongoing Phase I study of the molecule. Alligator could receive potential milestone payments of up to $695m, as well as being entitled to entitled to incremental royalty rates on global net sales of ADC-1013.
ATOR-1015 is a bispecific (CTLA-4 and OX40) antibody developed for tumor-targeted treatment of metastatic cancer, as either a single therapy or in combination with other immunotherapies, such as PD-1 blockers. A Phase I clinical study is scheduled to start in the second half of 2018, with support from CRO Theradex Oncology.
ATOR-1017 is an immunostimulating antibody (IgG4) that binds to the costimulatory receptor 4-1BB (CD137) in tumor-specific T cells. 4-1BB has the capacity to support the immune cells involved in tumor control, making it a particularly attractive target for cancer immunotherapy.
ALG.APV-527 is a bispecific antibody (4-1BB and 5T4) being developed for the treatment of metastatic cancer. The ALG.APV-527 antibody has two functions: to stimulate tumor-specific T cells via the costimulatory receptor 4-1BB, and to bind to the 5T4 protein on the surface of tumor cells and thereby localize the immunostimulation to the tumor environment.
In July 2017, the company signed a deal for the co-development of ALG.APV-527 with Aptevo Therapeutics Inc.. Under the agreement, the companies will equally own and finance the development of the drug candidate through Phase II studies.
Both ATOR-1017 and ALG.APV-527 are expected to enter clinical development in 2019.