Equillium Announces Poster Presentation at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) presented research findings at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, highlighting the synergistic effects of IL-15 and IL-21 on immune cell responses. The research demonstrated that these cytokines together enhance NK and CD8+ T cell activity, boost cytolytic function, and partially rescue exhausted T cells. The study showed increased production of granzyme A, granzyme B and perforin, indicating important roles in immune cell activation and survival. Dr. Stephen Connelly, chief scientific officer, emphasized the importance of targeting both cytokines in a single agent for treating inflammatory diseases or enhancing anti-tumor responses.
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) ha presentato i risultati di una ricerca durante il 39° Congresso Annuale della Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, evidenziando gli effetti sinergici di IL-15 e IL-21 sulle risposte delle cellule immunitarie. La ricerca ha dimostrato che queste citochine insieme potenziano l'attività delle cellule NK e delle cellule T CD8+, incrementano la funzione citoolitica e recuperano parzialmente le cellule T esauste. Lo studio ha mostrato un aumento nella produzione di granzyme A, granzyme B e perforina, indicando ruoli importanti nell'attivazione e nella sopravvivenza delle cellule immunitarie. Il dott. Stephen Connelly, direttore scientifico, ha sottolineato l'importanza di mirare a entrambe le citochine in un singolo agente per trattare malattie infiammatorie o potenziare le risposte anti-tumorali.
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) presentó los hallazgos de una investigación en la 39ª Reunión Anual de la Sociedad de Inmunoterapia del Cáncer, destacando los efectos sinérgicos de IL-15 e IL-21 en las respuestas de las células inmunitarias. La investigación demostró que estas citoquinas, juntas, mejoran la actividad de las células NK y de las células T CD8+, aumentan la función citotóxica y recuperan parcialmente las células T agotadas. El estudio mostró un aumento en la producción de granzyme A, granzyme B y perforina, lo que indica roles importantes en la activación y supervivencia de las células inmunitarias. El Dr. Stephen Connelly, director científico, enfatizó la importancia de dirigirse a ambas citoquinas en un solo agente para tratar enfermedades inflamatorias o mejorar las respuestas anti-tumorales.
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ)은 암 면역 요법 학회의 제39회 연례 회의에서 면역 세포 반응에 대한 IL-15와 IL-21의 시너지 효과를 강조하는 연구 결과를 발표했습니다. 이 연구는 이러한 사이토카인이 함께 NK 세포 및 CD8+ T 세포의 활성을 증가시키고, 세포 독성 기능을 향상시키며, 지친 T 세포를 부분적으로 회복시킨다는 것을 보여주었습니다. 연구는 과립효소 A, 과립효소 B 및 퍼포린의 생산 증가를 나타내며, 이는 면역 세포의 활성화 및 생존에 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 나타냅니다. 스티븐 코넬리 박사, 최고 과학 책임자는 염증 질환 치료 또는 항종양 반응 증진을 위한 단일 약제로 두 사이토카인을 모두 표적으로 삼는 것의 중요성을 강조했습니다.
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) a présenté des résultats de recherche lors de la 39e Réunion Annuelle de la Société pour l'Immunothérapie du Cancer, mettant en avant les effets synergiques de l'IL-15 et de l'IL-21 sur les réponses des cellules immunitaires. La recherche a démontré que ces cytokines, ensemble, augmentent l'activité des cellules NK et des cellules T CD8+, renforcent la fonction cytolytique et sauvent partiellement les cellules T épuisées. L'étude a révélé une augmentation de la production de granzyme A, granzyme B et perforine, indiquant des rôles importants dans l'activation et la survie des cellules immunitaires. Le Dr Stephen Connelly, directeur scientifique, a souligné l'importance de cibler les deux cytokines dans un seul agent pour traiter les maladies inflammatoires ou améliorer les réponses anti-tumorales.
Equillium (Nasdaq: EQ) präsentierte Forschungsergebnisse auf dem 39. Jahrestreffen der Gesellschaft für Immuntherapie von Krebs, die die synergistischen Effekte von IL-15 und IL-21 auf die Immunzellantworten hervorhoben. Die Forschung zeigte, dass diese Cytokine gemeinsam die Aktivität von NK-Zellen und CD8+ T-Zellen steigern, die zytotoxische Funktion stärken und erschöpfte T-Zellen teilweise wiederbeleben. Die Studie zeigte eine erhöhte Produktion von Granzyme A, Granzyme B und Perforin, was auf wichtige Rollen bei der Aktivierung und dem Überleben von Immunzellen hinweist. Dr. Stephen Connelly, der wissenschaftliche Direktor, betonte die Bedeutung der gleichzeitigen Ansprache beider Cytokine in einem einzigen Mittel zur Behandlung von Entzündungskrankheiten oder zur Verbesserung der anti-tumoralen Reaktionen.
- Research demonstrates potential therapeutic approach in immuno-oncology
- Successful demonstration of dual cytokine synergistic effects
- Promising results in reversing T cell exhaustion
- None.
Insights
The poster presentation provides technical insights into IL-15 and IL-21's synergistic effects on immune cell responses, but lacks immediate market-moving implications. While the research demonstrates promising mechanisms for potential therapeutic development, there are no concrete clinical or commercial developments announced. The data shows interesting biological effects on NK and CD8+ T cells, but remains in early research stages without clear timeline for therapeutic applications.
The findings suggest potential applications in both autoimmune diseases and cancer immunotherapy, expanding EQ's platform capabilities. However, this is primarily foundational research that will require significant additional development before translating into clinical assets. For a small-cap biotech (
Dual and synergistic signaling of IL-15 and IL-21 robustly augments NK and CD8 T cell responses
Highlights importance of dual inhibition or activation for therapeutic approaches
“These data provide deeper insights into the dual and synergistic signaling of IL-15 and IL-21 that drives aggressive T and NK cell responses that promote the cytolytic activity and interferon gamma production observed in multiple inflammatory diseases,” said Dr. Stephen Connelly, chief scientific officer at Equillium. “As such, in the context of treating inflammatory disease, or augmenting anti-tumor responses, it would be optimal to inhibit or activate both cytokines in a single agent and is a focus of the multi-cytokine platform at Equillium.”
Title: Interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-21 synergistically enhance NK and CD8+ T cell responses
Presenting Author: Phoi Tiet, Senior Research Associate, Equillium, Inc.
Poster Number: 908
Key Highlights, Summaries & Conclusions from Presentation:
- Synergistic signaling of IL-15 and IL-21 enhanced markers of activity including CD25, PD-1, Tim-3 and ICOS, in addition to increased production of granzyme A, granzyme B and perforin, indicating that these two cytokines play important roles in activation, development, and survival of NK and CD8+ T cells.
- IL-15 and IL-21 cooperatively amplified CD8+T and NK cytolytic activities and IFNγ production, suggesting that targeting these two pathways can amplify cell-based immunity.
- Preliminary evaluation of IL-15 and IL-21 in an antigen-based T cell exhaustion model described here suggests that the combination of the two cytokines has a modest effect on reversing the phenotype and function of terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells as shown by the increase in the percentage of TCF-1 positive cells, decrease in the percentage of TOX positive cells, and increase the percentage of polyfunctional cells.
- These results indicate that the combination of IL-15 and IL-21 robustly augments NK and CD8 T cell activity. The ability to not only boost cytolytic function of naïve and effector cells but to partially rescue the exhausted phenotype of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells is a promising therapeutic approach and addresses the challenges of immuno-oncology.
The poster presentation is available under the Multi-Cytokine Inhibition tab on the Presentations page of the Technology section on the corporate website.
About Multi-Cytokine Platform and Multi-Cytokine Inhibitors EQ101 & EQ302
Our proprietary multi-cytokine platform generates rationally designed composite peptides that selectively block key cytokines at the shared receptor level targeting pathogenic cytokine redundancies and synergies while preserving non-pathogenic signaling. This approach is expected to avoid the broad immuno-suppression and off-target safety liabilities that may be associated with other therapeutic classes, such as Janus kinase inhibitors. Many immune-mediated diseases are driven by the same combination of dysregulated cytokines, and we believe identifying the key cytokines for these diseases will allow us to target and develop customized treatment strategies for multiple autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Current platform assets include EQ101, a clinical stage, first-in-class, selective, tri-specific inhibitor of IL-2, IL-9, and IL-15 for intravenous and subcutaneous delivery and EQ302, a preclinical stage, first-in-class, selective, bi-specific inhibitor of IL-15 and IL-21 for oral delivery.
About Equillium
Equillium is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging a deep understanding of immunobiology to develop novel therapeutics to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders with high unmet medical need. The company’s pipeline consists of the following novel first-in-class immunomodulatory assets and product platform targeting immuno-inflammatory pathways. Itolizumab: a monoclonal antibody that targets the CD6-ALCAM signaling pathway which plays a central role in the modulation of effector T cells that drive a number of immuno-inflammatory diseases; currently under evaluation in a Phase 3 clinical study of patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and announced positive data from a Phase 1b clinical study of patients with lupus/lupus nephritis in April 2024. Equillium acquired rights to itolizumab through an exclusive partnership with Biocon Limited, who also provides commercial manufacturing for the product. EQ101: a selective tri-specific cytokine inhibitor targeting IL-2, IL-9, and IL-15; recently announced positive results from a Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical study of patients with alopecia areata. EQ302: an orally delivered, selective bi-specific cytokine inhibitor targeting IL-15 and IL-21 at pre-clinical stage.
For more information, visit www.equilliumbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", “could”, “continue”, "expect", "estimate", “may”, "plan", "outlook", “future” and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Equillium’s control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: Equillium’s ability to execute its plans and strategies; risks related to performing clinical studies; whether the results from clinical studies will validate and support the safety and efficacy of Equillium’s product candidates. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Equillium's filings and reports, which may be accessed for free by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and on Equillium’s website under the heading “Investors.” Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Equillium undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.
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Investor Contact
Michael
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
619-302-4431
ir@equilliumbio.com
Source: Equillium Inc.
FAQ
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