Coya Therapeutics Announces Pipeline Expansion of COYA 302 to Include Frontotemporal Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease in Addition to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Rhea-AI Summary

Coya Therapeutics, Inc. announces the expansion of its pipeline to include frontotemporal dementia and Parkinson's disease in addition to ALS. The company has developed COYA 302, a proprietary biologic combination immunotherapy targeting multiple pathways to address the proinflammatory environment underlying these diseases. The company has also provided strong and productive milestone and catalyst updates for 2024, with cash runway guidance extending into 2026.

Positive

• COYA 302 is designed to target multiple pathways and has the potential to be disease-modifying in neurodegenerative diseases.
• The company's vision is to leverage the potential of Tregs in neurodegenerative diseases, similar to the approach used in oncology and viral diseases.
• Key milestones and catalysts anticipated in 2024 include filing an IND and initiating Phase 2 trials in ALS and FTD patients, as well as releasing animal data in PD models.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Biotech Industry Analyst

The expansion of Coya Therapeutics' pipeline to include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) alongside amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represents a strategic move in the biotechnology industry. By targeting diseases with similar pathogeneses involving complex inflammatory pathways and dysfunctional Tregs, Coya is positioning its COYA 302 therapy to potentially address a broader market within the neurodegenerative space. The unique approach of a combination therapy, which includes low dose IL-2 and CTLA-4 Ig fusion protein, aims to modulate the immune system more effectively than monotherapies. This could be a significant advancement given the limited success of current treatments in modifying the progression of these diseases.

The announcement of a cash runway into 2026 suggests financial stability that could reassure investors about the company's ability to reach key milestones without immediate additional financing. However, the inherent risks of clinical development in biotech, including trial outcomes and regulatory hurdles, continue to be factors that could impact the company's valuation and investor sentiment.

Medical Research Analyst

COYA 302's dual-mechanism approach to enhance Treg function and inhibit proinflammatory cells is noteworthy in the context of neurodegenerative disease treatment. The synergistic potential of combining low dose IL-2, which is known to increase Treg numbers and function, with CTLA-4 Ig, a molecule that can dampen proinflammatory responses, may represent a significant therapeutic innovation. This approach reflects a deeper understanding of the immune dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases and could lead to a paradigm shift in treatment if clinical outcomes are positive.

The planned Investigational New Drug (IND) filings and Phase 2 trials for ALS and FTD, as well as preclinical studies in PD, indicate a rigorous development timeline. The scientific community and stakeholders will be particularly interested in the longitudinal biomarker studies, as these may provide insights into disease progression and therapy effectiveness. Biomarkers are critical in neurodegenerative diseases for both diagnosis and monitoring of disease course and improvements in this area could have wide-reaching implications for patient care.

Market Research Analyst

From a market perspective, Coya Therapeutics' focus on ALS, FTD and PD targets areas of high unmet need with significant patient populations. The global neurodegenerative disease market is expected to grow, driven by an aging population and increased prevalence of these conditions. As such, successful development and potential approval of COYA 302 could allow Coya to capture a significant share of this market. The company's strategic update, including anticipated milestones for 2024, provides a clear roadmap that may enhance investor confidence and could impact stock performance positively if the company delivers on its promises.

It is important to note that the biotechnology sector is highly competitive and the success of COYA 302 will depend not only on clinical efficacy and safety but also on its ability to differentiate itself from other treatments in development. Investors will need to monitor the progress of these trials closely, as well as any emerging competitors that could influence Coya's market position.

All three conditions share common hallmark of complex inflammatory pathways underlying disease pathophysiology that involve dysfunctional regulatory T cell (Treg) biology which may limit efficacy of monotherapy approaches;

COYA 302 is a proprietary biologic combination immunotherapy that targets multiple pathways which may successfully overcome the complex immune environment driving these diseases;

Cash runway guidance remains into 2026;

Company also provides strong and productive milestone and catalyst update for 2024

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) (“Coya” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing biologics intended to enhance Treg function, announces that it is expanding its pipeline in neurodegenerative conditions for COYA 302 beyond ALS to include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Company’s updated pipeline can be viewed here.

FTD and PD share a similar disease pathogenesis to ALS that is associated with a heightened proinflammatory cascade involving dysfunctional Tregs and proinflammatory microglia and macrophages. The biological redundancies in molecular immune pathways in these complex diseases limit the efficacy of many single drug therapies, requiring the development of novel therapeutics that can address this pathophysiologic complexity.

Dr. Fred Grossman, Coya’s President and Chief Medical Officer stated, “ALS, FTD, and PD are driven by a similar, yet complex, proinflammatory environment that requires targeting more than a single pathway. COYA 302 has been designed to target multiple pathways, such as restoring dysfunctional Tregs and inhibiting proinflammatory microglia and macrophages, and may have disease modifying potential in these severe diseases with high unmet need.”

COYA 302 is a dual-mechanism investigational biologic combination immunotherapy comprised of proprietary low dose IL-2 and fusion protein CTLA-4 Ig. Low dose IL-2 enhances anti-inflammatory Treg function and numbers while the fusion protein CTLA-4 Ig suppress proinflammatory cell function, enabling potentially synergistic mechanisms in modulating inflammatory pathways and restoring immune balance. COYA 302 has the potential to be disease modifying by targeting multiple dysregulated immune pathways while restoring function in anti-inflammatory Treg function.

Coya intends to file an IND for COYA 302 for the treatment of ALS in the first half of 2024 and an IND for COYA 302 for the treatment of FTD before the end of 2024. In addition, studies in animal models of PD are planned in 2024, and based on those studies, a subsequent IND filing is anticipated for the treatment of PD.

Howard H. Berman, Ph.D., Coya’s CEO stated: “Our vision has always been to leverage the potential of Tregs in neurodegenerative diseases. With COYA 302, we have taken a page from the playbook of oncology and viral disease where combination therapies have been transformational. We believe that the complementary and possibly synergistic multi-mechanism mode of action of COYA 302 in targeting the complex immune environment will lead to promising clinical outcomes in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.”

The Company also announces its key milestones and catalysts anticipated in 2024, including:

H1 2024:

• COYA 302 File IND and Initiate Phase 2 Trial in ALS Patients
• COYA 302 Publication of Phase 1 Investigator Initiated Trial clinical data in ALS Patients
• COYA 302 Publication of Longitudinal Biomarker study with correlation to patient survival in ALS Patients
• COYA 302 Presentation on Longitudinal Biomarker Data in ALS Patients at Conference
• COYA 301 Presentation of Phase 1 Investigator Initiated Trial data in AD Patients at 18^th annual AD + PD Conference

H2 2024:

• COYA 302 First patient dosed in Phase 2 Trial in ALS Patients
• COYA 302 File IND and Initiate Phase 2 Trial in FTD Patients
• COYA 302 Animal data released in PD model
• COYA 301 Proof of Concept combination data with Drug X in AD mouse model
• COYA 301 Phase 2 Investigator Initiated Trial Topline AD data Presented (Summer)

About COYA 302
COYA 302 is an investigational and proprietary biologic combination therapy with a dual immunomodulatory mechanism of action intended to enhance the anti-inflammatory function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and suppress the inflammation produced by activated monocytes and macrophages. COYA 302 is comprised of proprietary low dose interleukin-2 (LD IL-2) and CTLA-4 Ig and is being developed for subcutaneous administration for the treatment of patients with ALS. These mechanisms may have additive or synergistic effects.

In February of 2023, Coya announced results from a proof-of-concept, open-label clinical study evaluating LD IL-2 and CTLA-4 Ig in a small cohort of patients with ALS conducted at the Houston Methodist Research Institute (Houston, Texas) by Stanley Appel, M.D., Jason Thonhoff, M.D., Ph.D., and David Beers, Ph.D. This study was the first-of-its-kind evaluating this dual-mechanism immunotherapy for the treatment of ALS. Patients in the study received investigational treatment for 48 consecutive weeks and were evaluated for safety and tolerability, Treg function, serum biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and clinical functioning as measured by the ALSFRS-R scale.

During the 48-week treatment period, the therapy was well tolerated. The most common adverse event was mild injection-site reactions. No patient discontinued the study, and no deaths or other serious adverse events were reported.

Patients' disease progression was measured using the ALSFRS-R scale, a validated rating tool for monitoring the progression of disability in patients with ALS. The mean (±SD) ALSFRS-R scores at week 24 (33.75 ±3.3) and week 48 (32 ±7.8) after initiation of treatment were not statistically different compared to the ALSFRS-R score at baseline (33.5 ±5.9), suggesting significant amelioration in the progression of the disease over the 48-week treatment period.

Treg suppressive function, expressed as percentage of inhibition of proinflammatory T cell proliferation, showed a statistically significant increase over the course of the treatment period and was significantly reduced at the end of the 8-week washout post-treatment period. Treg suppressive function at 24 weeks (79.9 ±9.6) and 48 weeks (89.5 ±4.1) were significantly higher compared to baseline (62.1 ±8.1) (p<0.01), suggesting enhanced and durable Treg suppressive function over the course of treatment. In contrast, Treg suppressive function (mean ±SD) was significantly decreased at the end of the 8-week washout period compared to end-of-treatment at week 48 (70.3 ±8.1 vs. 89.5 ±4.1, p <0.05).

The study also evaluated serum biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxides. The available data up to 16 weeks after initiation of treatment suggest a decrease in these biomarker levels, which is consistent with the observed enhancement of Treg function. The evaluation of the full biomarker data is ongoing.

COYA 302 is an investigational product not yet approved by the FDA or any other regulatory agency.

About Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a rare neurological disease that affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. About 20,000 people live with ALS in the United States and approximately 5,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. The functional status of ALS patients declines about 1 point per month on average, as measured by the Revised ALS Function Rating Scale¹, or ALSFRS-R, a validated tool to monitor the progression of the disease.

ALS has no cure, and the currently approved drug treatments provide limited benefit to patients. ALS is a type of motor neuron disease. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken, start to twitch (fasciculations), and waste away (atrophy). Eventually, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements. Most people with ALS die from respiratory failure, usually within three to five years from when the symptoms first appear.²

About Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the result of damage to neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Many possible symptoms can result, including unusual behaviors, emotional problems, trouble communicating, difficulty with work, or difficulty with walking. FTD is rare and tends to occur at a younger age than other forms of dementia. About 60% of people with FTD are 45 to 64 years old. FTD is progressive, meaning symptoms get worse over time. In the early stages, people may have just one symptom. As the disease progresses, other symptoms appear as more parts of the brain are affected. It is difficult to predict how long someone with FTD will live. Some people live more than 10 years after diagnosis, while others live less than two years after they are diagnosed. There is no cure for FTD, and no treatments slow or stop the progression of the disease.³

About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. The most prominent manifestations of PD occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become impaired or die. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue. Most people with PD first develop the disease after age 60, but about 10% experience onset before the age of 50. There is no cure for PD, and currently available treatments are intended to relieve some symptoms.⁴

References

1. Atassi N, et al. The PRO-ACT database: design, initial analyses, and predictive features. Neurology, 2014;83:1719–1725. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000000951.
2. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Website (https://www.ninds.nih.gov), accessed on January 8, 2024.
3. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Website (https://www.nia.nih.gov), accessed on January 8, 2024.
4. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Website (https://www.nia.nih.gov), accessed on January 8, 2024.

About Coya Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary treatments focused on the biology and potential therapeutic advantages of regulatory T cells (“Tregs”) to target systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Dysfunctional Tregs underlie numerous conditions, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, and this cellular dysfunction may lead to sustained inflammation and oxidative stress resulting in lack of homeostasis of the immune system.

Coya’s investigational product candidate pipeline leverages multiple therapeutic modalities aimed at restoring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions of Tregs. Coya’s therapeutic platforms include Treg-enhancing biologics, Treg-derived exosomes, and autologous Treg cell therapy. Coya’s 300 Series product candidates, COYA 301 and COYA 302, are biologic therapies intended to enhance Treg function and expand Treg numbers. COYA 301 is a cytokine biologic for subcutaneous administration intended to enhance Treg function and expand Treg numbers in vivo. COYA 302 is a biologic combination for subcutaneous and/or intravenous administration intended to enhance Treg function while depleting T effector function and activated macrophages. These two mechanisms may be additive or synergistic in suppressing inflammation. For more information about Coya, please visit www.coyatherapeutics.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this presentation, including information concerning our current and future financial performance, business plans and objectives, current and future clinical and preclinical development activities, timing and success of our ongoing and planned clinical trials and related data, the timing of announcements, updates and results of our clinical trials and related data, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval, the potential therapeutic benefits and economic value of our product candidates, competitive position, industry environment and potential market opportunities. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors including, but not limited to, those related to risks associated with the impact of COVID-19; the success, cost and timing of our product candidate development activities and ongoing and planned clinical trials; our plans to develop and commercialize targeted therapeutics; the progress of patient enrollment and dosing in our preclinical or clinical trials; the ability of our product candidates to achieve applicable endpoints in the clinical trials; the safety profile of our product candidates; the potential for data from our clinical trials to support a marketing application, as well as the timing of these events; our ability to obtain funding for our operations; development and commercialization of our product candidates; the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals; the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of our product candidates; the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets; our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of our product candidates; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection; our dependence on third party manufacturers; the success of competing therapies or products that are or may become available; our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel; our ability to identify additional product candidates with significant commercial potential consistent with our commercial objectives; ; and our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks may emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Although our management believes that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances described in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240116826337/en/

Investor

David Snyder

david@coyatherapeutics.com

CORE IR

Bret Shapiro

brets@coreir.com

561-479-8566

Media

Jessica Starman

jessica@elev8newmedia.com

818-621-7216

Source: Coya Therapeutics, Inc.

FAQ

What is the ticker symbol for Coya Therapeutics, Inc.?

The ticker symbol for Coya Therapeutics, Inc. is COYA.

What is COYA 302?

COYA 302 is a proprietary biologic combination immunotherapy developed by Coya Therapeutics, Inc. targeting multiple pathways to address the proinflammatory environment underlying neurodegenerative diseases.

What are the key milestones anticipated in 2024 for Coya Therapeutics, Inc.?

Key milestones anticipated in 2024 include filing an IND and initiating Phase 2 trials in ALS and FTD patients, as well as releasing animal data in PD models.

What is the vision of Coya Therapeutics, Inc. regarding neurodegenerative diseases?

Coya Therapeutics, Inc. aims to leverage the potential of Tregs in neurodegenerative diseases, similar to the approach used in oncology and viral diseases.

What is the cash runway guidance for Coya Therapeutics, Inc.?

The cash runway guidance for Coya Therapeutics, Inc. extends into 2026.

What is the composition of COYA 302?

COYA 302 is a dual-mechanism investigational biologic combination immunotherapy comprised of proprietary low dose IL-2 and fusion protein CTLA-4 Ig.