Kintor Pharma Announces PD-L1/TGF-β dual-targeting antibody
Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited (“Kintor Pharma”, HKEX: 9939), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative small molecule and biological therapeutics, announced that the clinical trial of PD-L1/TGF-β dual-targeting antibody (GT90008) for the treatment of advanced solid tumours was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China on 21 October 2021.
GT90008 is a PD-L1/TGF-β dual targeting antibody which has a high activity in inhibiting both PD-L1 and TGF-βR2. GT90008 has the potential to be a best-in-class drug globally. Kintor Pharma obtained an exclusive license in Greater China for GT90008 from US-based company Gensun in August 2020.
PD-L1/TGF-β dual targeting antibody
Immunosuppressive entities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remain a major impediment to immunotherapeutic approaches for a majority of patients with cancer. While the immunosuppressive role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the TME is well known, clinical studies to date with anti-TGF-β agents have led to limited success. The bifunctional agent example , bintrafusp alfa (previously designated M7824) has been developed in an attempt to address this issue. Bintrafusp alfa consists of an IgG1 targeting programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) moiety fused via peptide linkers to the extracellular domain of two TGF-β receptor II molecules designed to ‘trap’ TGF-β in the TME. This agent is able to bring the TGF-β trap to the TME via its anti-PD-L1 component, thus simultaneously attacking both the immunosuppressive PD-L1 and TGF-β entities.
Dr. Youzhi Tong, founder, Chairman and CEO of Kintor Pharma, commented, “We are delighted to obtain the approval from NMPA to conduct the clinical trial of PD-L1/TGF-β dual-targeting antibody. GT90008 is the second novel antibody drug that has entered the clinical stage. The rapid progress from in-license to IND approval has demonstrated our team’s great execution capability. Though there has been headwind on dual-targets antibody of this category, we are confident with our antibody and actively exploring the combination therapies with our GT90001(ALK-1) antibody on advanced tumours. We wish the combo design of GT90008 and GT90001 would benefit patients with advanced tumours. “
About Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited
Kintor Pharmaceutical Limited is developing and commercializing a robust pipeline of innovative small molecule and biological therapeutics for androgen-receptor-related disease areas with unmet medical needs, including COVID-19, prostate, breast and liver cancer, alopecia and acne.