Full Press Release Details
Biotech Presents New Data on Mechanism of Action for CM24 at the AACR Special Conference: Cancer Metastasis
demonstrate suppression by CM24 of NET-promoting cancer cell migration and metastasis
suggest potential new treatment target for metastasis
REHOVOT, Israel, Nov. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)
-- Purple Biotech Ltd. ("Purple Biotech", or the "Company") (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company
developing first-in-class, effective and durable therapies that harness the power of the tumor microenvironment to overcome tumor immune
evasion and drug resistance, today announced that it is presenting data that provide a strong rationale for advancing CM24 as an anti-cancer,
anti-metastatic agent. The poster, entitled "CM24,
a Novel Anti-CEACAM1 mAb, Suppresses Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET)-induced Migration and Metastasis of Cancer Cells,"
is presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Special
Conference: Cancer Metastasis, taking place in Portland, Oregon, US, on November 14-17,
extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like DNA structures covered with cancer-promoting proteins released by activated neutrophils. Multiple
studies have shown that NETs play a key role in the tumor microenvironment, furthering tumor progression, immune evasion and tumor migration
and metastasis, which makes them a valid target for cancer drug development. NET-associated CEACAM1 constitutes adhesion focal for cancer
cells and, therefore, is suggested as a potential therapeutic target for preventing metastatic progression.
on both in vitro and in vivo research, Purple Biotech presents data showing for the first time that its novel immune checkpoint
inhibitor CM24, which is active against CEACAM1, is also active against NET-related activity. The preclinical data show that CM24 binds
to the NET structure, significantly suppressing NET-induced cancer cell migration and inhibiting cancer metastasis in mouse models. These
results and additional data to be presented in the poster, support a strong rationale for advancing CM24 as an anti-cancer and anti-metastatic
agent, that may improve patients' survival.
is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody with the potential to treat multiple cancers. Currently in Phase 2, the Company is evaluating
CM24 in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (PDAC) in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and chemotherapy. The primary
study endpoint is to evaluate preliminary efficacy in 2nd line PDAC.
data demonstrate the potential of CM24 as a powerful treatment for patients with cancer," said Gil Efron, Chief Executive Officer,
Purple Biotech. "This novel mechanism of action suggests that CM24 has the potential to become a significant anti-cancer and anti-metastasis
agent across multiple types of solid tumors. We look forward to continuing the research into this therapeutic approach in conjunction
with our Phase 2 clinical study in PDAC."
metastatic dissemination and progression are responsible for 90% of cancer deaths, they receive less attention in clinical investigation
compared to treating primary tumors or secondary lesions," said Dr. Hadas Reuveni, Vice President Research and Development at Purple
Biotech. "Most clinical literature on cancer therapy is not focused on evasion-related outcomes or prevention of metastasis, but
rather predominantly relates to objectives such as disease progression and tumor shrinkage. The present research brings an important
new focus to the process of metastasis and emphasizes the need to better understand and address it to improve treatment outcomes."
Biotech Ltd. is a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that seek to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance.
The Company's oncology pipeline includes NT219 and CM24. NT219 is a dual inhibitor, novel small molecule that simultaneously targets
IRS1/2 and STAT3. In a Phase 1/2 study of NT219, the Company is currently advancing NT219 as a monotherapy treatment of solid tumors,
and in a dose escalation of NT219 in combination with cetuximab for the treatment of recurrent and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma
of the head and neck cancer (SCCHN) or colorectal adenocarcinoma. These studies will be followed by an expansion phase of NT219 at its
recommended Phase 2 level in combination with cetuximab in patients with recurrent and metastatic SCCHN. CM24 is a humanized monoclonal
antibody that blocks CEACAM1, an immune checkpoint protein that supports tumor immune evasion and survival through multiple pathways.
The Company is advancing CM24 as a combination therapy with anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in a Phase 2 study for the treatment of pancreatic
ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The Company has entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb for the Phase
1/2 clinical trials to evaluate the combination of CM24 with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab in addition to chemotherapy. The Company's
corporate headquarters are located in Rehovot, Israel. For more information, please visit https://purple-biotech.com/.
Statements and Safe Harbor Statement
statements in this press release that are forward-looking and not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include,
but are not limited to, statements that are not statements of historical fact, and may be identified by words such as "believe",
"expect", "intend", "plan", "may", "should", "could", "might",
"seek", "target", "will", "project", "forecast", "continue" or "anticipate"
or their negatives or variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly
to historical matters. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance.
Forward-looking statements reflect our current views, expectations, beliefs or intentions with respect to future events, and are subject
to a number of assumptions, involve known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, as well as uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be significantly different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences
include, among others, risks relating to: the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; product development
for NT219 and CM24; the process by which early stage therapeutic candidates such as NT219 and CM24 could potentially lead to an approved
drug product is long and subject to highly significant risks, particularly with respect to a joint development collaboration; the fact
that drug development and commercialization involves a lengthy and expensive process with uncertain outcomes; our ability to successfully
develop and commercialize our pharmaceutical products; the expense, length, progress and results of any clinical trials; the impact of
any changes in regulation and legislation that could affect the pharmaceutical industry; the difficulty in receiving the regulatory approvals
necessary in order to commercialize our products; the difficulty of predicting actions of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any
other applicable regulator of pharmaceutical products; the regulatory environment and changes in the health policies and regimes in the
countries in which we operate; the uncertainty surrounding the actual market reception to our pharmaceutical products once cleared for
marketing in a particular market; the introduction of competing products; patents obtained by competitors; dependence on the effectiveness
of our patents and other protections for innovative products; our ability to obtain, maintain and defend issued patents; the commencement
of any patent interference or infringement action against our patents, and our ability to prevail, obtain a favorable decision or recover
damages in any such action; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions, and other factors
that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including our cautionary discussion of risks and uncertainties under "Risk Factors"
in our Registration Statements and Annual Reports. These are factors that we believe could cause our actual results to differ materially
from expected results. Other factors besides those we have listed could also adversely affect us. Any forward-looking statement in this
press release speaks only as of the date which it is made. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
by applicable law. You are advised, however, to consult any additional disclosures we make in our reports to the SEC, which are available
on the SEC's website, https://www.sec.gov.
Account Supervisor, Integrated Communications