Vincerx Pharma Presents Preclinical Data on VIP924, a First-in-Class Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC), at the 2023 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
VIP924 consists of an anti-CXCR5 humanized monoclonal antibody with a novel linker containing a unique peptide sequence specifically cleaved by legumain—a tumor-associated lysosomal protease. Inside the tumor cell, upon legumain cleavage, the active payload, VIP716, is released. VIP716 is a novel highly potent and selective kinesin spindle protein inhibitor (KSPi), which has been modified with a hydrophilic CellTrapper™ moiety to reduce membrane permeability without having a negative impact on efficient target binding. This modification allows for intracellular accumulation of VIP716 in CXCR5+ tumor cells, providing greater efficacy, and prevents cellular penetration into healthy tissues, reducing toxicity.
“We are thrilled to continue advancing our bioconjugation platform with our newest ADC, VIP924,” said Ahmed Hamdy M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vincerx. “At AACR, VIP924 showed meaningful preclinical activity in a panel of lymphoma cell lines and in cell line-derived and patient-derived lymphoma mouse models. Most notably, mouse models implanted with tumor cells from lymphoma patients demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival after VIP924 treatment. Showing activity in mouse models implanted with tumor cells from patients, also known as PDX models, is particularly meaningful because PDX models are more representative of the complexity of human cancer than results seen with cell lines.”
Key Presentation Highlights:
Poster presentation, titled, CXCR5 is a very promising drug target for the development of antibody-drug conjugates to treat patients with lymphoma, presented by
- High expression of CXCR5 was observed by immunohistochemistry on naive and previously treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) samples; with limited expression in healthy tissues.
- VIP924 showed superior in vitro cytotoxicity across different non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines compared with other B-cell lymphoma targeting antibodies conjugated to the same effector chemistry including, CD19-KSPi, CD22-KSPi, and CD70-KSPi.
- VIP924 (10mg/kg) resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition in two DLBCL patient-derived tumor models: 68% in a low CXCR5-expressing model and 87% in a high CXCR5-expressing model. Prolonged survival of VIP924-treated animals was observed in both models. No effect on body weight or any adverse effects in the VIP924-treated mice were observed.
- To determine the efficacy of VIP924 in large, established tumors, a single VIP924 dose of 10mg/kg was administered in mice transplanted with the HBL-1 lymphoma cell line. Complete responses were observed in 2 out of 3 mice with no measurable tumors on treatment day 26. After 24 and 48 hours, accumulation of VIP716 (ie, payload; “metabolite”) was observed in the tumors but not in plasma.
- KSP inhibition resulted in mitotic arrest and the formation of characteristic monopolar spindles (monoasters). VIP924 treatment produced higher levels and longer duration of monoaster formation in a lymphoma cell line compared to the permeable, small molecule KSPi, ispinesib.
The poster can be accessed on the presentations section of the Vincerx website.
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Source: Vincerx Pharma, Inc.