Full Press Release Details
Pharmaceuticals Licenses Two Integrin Targeting mAbs Further Expanding Pipeline into Cancer and Fibrotic Diseases
| Corbus diversifies pipeline with two new mAbs that target integrins that inhibit activation of TGF | ||
| High potency anti- v 8 mAb licensed from University of California San Francisco and anti- v 6/ v 8 mAb licensed from Panorama Research Inc. | ||
| Both mAbs expected to start Phase 1 testing in 2022 | ||
| Capital and resources in place to advance multiple programs into clinical development | ||
| Company to host conference call and webcast today, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET |
MA, June 1, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRBP) ("Corbus" or the "Company"),
today announced licensing deals for two new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), CRB-601 and CRB-602, that target integrins to inhibit activation
of transforming growth factor (TGF ). This new integrin program, in addition to the existing endocannabinoid system program,
strengthens and diversifies Corbus' immunology pipeline for inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases, and cancer. With these
additions, Corbus expects to have four compounds other than lenabasum in Phase 1 testing in 2022.
integrins to inhibit TGF activation
is a multifunctional cytokine involved in many cellular processes, including cell growth and differentiation, immune responses, wound
healing, and tissue repair. TGF plays a key role in fibrosis and also promotes cancer growth and metastasis via its effects in
the tumor microenvironment (TME). The integrins v 6 and v 8 are expressed by cancer cells, and v 6
is also expressed on epithelial cells in fibrotic diseases. These integrins enable TGF to exert its biologic effects by releasing
it from its latent complex. The goal of blocking these integrins is to inhibit the deleterious effects of TGF . A number of other
preclinical and early clinical stage programs are testing this approach of inhibiting v integrins.
and CRB-602 are two novel and distinct anti-integrin mAbs:
| CRB-601 is an anti- v 8 mAb rationally designed by Dr. Stephen Nishimura and his colleagues at the University of California San Francisco and is potent at picomolar concentrations in inhibiting activation of TGF . C6D4, the parent mAb of CRB-601, has single agent activity as well as synergistic activity when combined with an anti-PD1 mAb in syngeneic mouse tumor models. Corbus plans to develop CRB-601 for treatment of solid tumors in combination with existing therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. Phase 1 studies are expected to start in 2022. | ||
| CRB-602 was developed by Panorama Research Inc. to specifically inhibit both v 6 and v 8. Both v 6 and v 8 have been implicated in fibrotic diseases and in cancers of epithelial cell origin. Corbus believes targeting both integrins at once is a rational approach to treating fibrotic diseases and carcinomas. Phase 1 studies are expected to start in 2022. |
look forward to a strong partnership with Corbus and hope to see our mAb make a positive impact on the lives of cancer patients all over
the world," said Anthony Francis, Executive Director of Technology Management at UCSF Innovation Ventures.
is committed to developing new medicines to improve the lives of people who need them," stated Yuval Cohen, Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer. "We believe these two new integrin-targeting mAbs offer a promising approach to inhibiting TGF , fit well with our
expertise in immunology, and diversify and expand our pipeline. We plan to advance up to four new programs into the clinic next year
and have the capital and resources to do so."
Company's $125 million of cash and investments on hand, as of March 31, 2021, is expected to fund operations into the first quarter
of 2024, based on the current planned expenditures.
Terms and Conditions:
the combined terms of the two exclusive licensing agreements, Corbus will pay $2,000,000 upfront and will make potential development
and sales milestone payments totaling up to $206,000,000 and pay low single-digit royalties on sales.
Call and Webcast Information:
management will host a conference call and webcast presentation for investors, analysts, and other interested parties today, Tuesday,
June 1, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. ET.
participate on the call, please dial (877) 407-3978 (domestic) or (412) 902-0039 (international). The live webcast will be accessible
on the Events page of the Investors section of the Corbus website, www.corbuspharma.com, and will be archived for
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide
through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient
care. It includes UCSF Health, which comprises three top-ranked hospitals, as well as affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more
at ucsf.edu, or see our Fact Sheet.
Panorama Research Inc.
Research Inc. is a translational research lab and incubator with deep domain expertise in antibody engineering and preclinical drug development.
Panorama focuses on identifying promising therapeutic targets and incubates novel, proprietary technologies from in-house research or
through collaboration with leading academic institutions. Panorama is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA.
is committed to leveraging our expertise in immunology to fulfill our purpose of developing innovative new medicines that improve the
lives of people living with inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases, and cancer. Corbus' current pipeline includes small
molecules that activate or inhibit the endocannabinoid system and anti-integrin monoclonal antibodies that block activation of TGF .
Corbus is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts. For more information on Corbus, visit corbuspharma.com. Connect with us on
Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the
Company's restructuring, trial results, product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive
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clinical development plans and timelines, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from
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Kats, Assistant Director, Business Development & Licensing
Pharmaceuticals Contacts:
Jenkins, Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Smith, Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications