Purple Biotech Announces Research Collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for CAPTN-3 Tri-Specific Antibody Platform
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) has announced a research collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to study their CAPTN-3 tri-specific antibody platform. The collaboration will explore how CAPTN-3 regulates NK and T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), aiming to enhance tumor-specific immunity against various cancer types.
The CAPTN-3 antibodies are designed to promote antitumor functions through three mechanisms: conditional activation of the anti-CD3 arm at the TME, blockade of NKG2A, and targeting tumor-specific antigens. This approach could potentially improve responses in resistant cancer patients and overcome current therapy limitations.
The research will be led by Dr. Amir Horowitz, Associate Professor at Mount Sinai, who has previously demonstrated the importance of the HLA-E/NKG2A axis as a dominant inhibitory checkpoint pathway in solid tumors. The study aims to map how CAPTN-3 antibodies alter T and NK cell activation within the TME.
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) ha annunciato una collaborazione di ricerca con la Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai per studiare la loro piattaforma di anticorpi tri-specifici CAPTN-3. La collaborazione esplorerà come CAPTN-3 regoli le cellule NK e T all'interno del microambiente tumorale (TME), con l'obiettivo di potenziare l'immunità specifica per i tumori contro vari tipi di cancro.
Gli anticorpi CAPTN-3 sono progettati per promuovere le funzioni antitumorali attraverso tre meccanismi: attivazione condizionale del braccio anti-CD3 nel TME, blocco di NKG2A e targeting di antigeni tumorali specifici. Questo approccio potrebbe migliorare le risposte nei pazienti con cancro resistente e superare le limitazioni delle terapie attuali.
La ricerca sarà guidata dal Dott. Amir Horowitz, Professore Associato presso il Mount Sinai, che ha precedentemente dimostrato l'importanza dell'asse HLA-E/NKG2A come percorso di checkpoint inibitorio dominante nei tumori solidi. Lo studio mira a mappare come gli anticorpi CAPTN-3 alterano l'attivazione delle cellule T e NK all'interno del TME.
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) ha anunciado una colaboración de investigación con la Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai para estudiar su plataforma de anticuerpos tri-específicos CAPTN-3. La colaboración explorará cómo CAPTN-3 regula las células NK y T dentro del microambiente tumoral (TME), con el objetivo de mejorar la inmunidad específica contra varios tipos de cáncer.
Los anticuerpos CAPTN-3 están diseñados para promover funciones antitumorales a través de tres mecanismos: activación condicional del brazo anti-CD3 en el TME, bloqueo de NKG2A y targeting de antígenos específicos del tumor. Este enfoque podría mejorar las respuestas en pacientes con cáncer resistente y superar las limitaciones de las terapias actuales.
La investigación será liderada por el Dr. Amir Horowitz, Profesor Asociado en Mount Sinai, quien ha demostrado previamente la importancia del eje HLA-E/NKG2A como una vía de checkpoint inhibitor dominante en tumores sólidos. El estudio tiene como objetivo mapear cómo los anticuerpos CAPTN-3 alteran la activación de células T y NK dentro del TME.
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT)는 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai와 함께 CAPTN-3 삼중 특이성 항체 플랫폼을 연구하기 위한 연구 협력을 발표했습니다. 이 협력은 CAPTN-3이 종양 미세환경(TME) 내에서 NK 세포와 T 세포를 어떻게 조절하는지 탐구하여 다양한 암 유형에 대한 종양 특이 면역력을 강화하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
CAPTN-3 항체는 세 가지 메커니즘을 통해 항종양 기능을 촉진하도록 설계되었습니다: TME에서의 항-CD3 팔의 조건부 활성화, NKG2A의 차단 및 종양 특이 항원의 표적화. 이 접근 방식은 저항성 암 환자에서 반응을 개선하고 현재 치료의 한계를 극복할 수 있는 잠재력을 지니고 있습니다.
이 연구는 Mount Sinai의 부교수인 Dr. Amir Horowitz가 이끌며, 그는 이전에 HLA-E/NKG2A 축이 고형 종양에서 지배적인 억제 체크포인트 경로로서의 중요성을 입증하였습니다. 이 연구는 CAPTN-3 항체가 TME 내에서 T 세포와 NK 세포의 활성화를 어떻게 변화시키는지를 매핑하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) a annoncé une collaboration de recherche avec la Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai pour étudier leur plateforme d'anticorps tri-spécifiques CAPTN-3. La collaboration explorera comment CAPTN-3 régule les cellules NK et T dans le microenvironnement tumoral (TME), visant à renforcer l'immunité spécifique aux tumeurs contre divers types de cancer.
Les anticorps CAPTN-3 sont conçus pour promouvoir les fonctions anti-tumorales par le biais de trois mécanismes : activation conditionnelle du bras anti-CD3 dans le TME, blocage de NKG2A, et ciblage des antigènes tumoraux spécifiques. Cette approche pourrait potentiellement améliorer les réponses chez les patients atteints de cancer résistant et surmonter les limites des thérapies actuelles.
La recherche sera dirigée par le Dr. Amir Horowitz, professeur associé au Mount Sinai, qui a précédemment démontré l'importance de l'axe HLA-E/NKG2A en tant que voie de point de contrôle inhibitrice dominante dans les tumeurs solides. L'étude vise à cartographier comment les anticorps CAPTN-3 modifient l'activation des cellules T et NK dans le TME.
Purple Biotech (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) hat eine Forschungskooperation mit der Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai angekündigt, um ihre tri-spezifische Antikörperplattform CAPTN-3 zu untersuchen. Die Kooperation wird erforschen, wie CAPTN-3 NK- und T-Zellen im Tumormikroumfeld (TME) reguliert, mit dem Ziel, die tumorspezifische Immunität gegen verschiedene Krebsarten zu stärken.
Die CAPTN-3-Antikörper sind so konzipiert, dass sie antitumorale Funktionen durch drei Mechanismen fördern: bedingte Aktivierung des anti-CD3-Arms im TME, Blockade von NKG2A und gezielte Ansprache tumorspezifischer Antigene. Dieser Ansatz könnte potenziell die Reaktionen bei therapieresistenten Krebspatienten verbessern und aktuelle Therapiegrenzen überwinden.
Die Forschung wird von Dr. Amir Horowitz, außerordentlicher Professor am Mount Sinai, geleitet, der zuvor die Bedeutung der HLA-E/NKG2A-Achse als dominanten inhibierenden Checkpoint-Weg bei soliden Tumoren demonstriert hat. Die Studie zielt darauf ab, zu kartieren, wie CAPTN-3-Antikörper die Aktivierung von T- und NK-Zellen im TME verändern.
- Strategic partnership with prestigious Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Development of innovative tri-specific antibody platform targeting multiple cancer mechanisms
- Preparation advancement towards first-in-human clinical studies
- Product still in preclinical stage, far from commercialization
- Previous consulting relationship between Dr. Horowitz and Purple Biotech may raise conflict of interest concerns
Insights
This research collaboration marks a pivotal development in Purple Biotech's immunotherapy program, focusing on their innovative CAPTN-3 tri-specific antibody platform. The partnership targets a critical challenge in cancer treatment: immune evasion through the HLA-E/NKG2A axis, which has emerged as a dominant checkpoint pathway in solid tumors.
The technical sophistication of CAPTN-3 lies in its dual mechanism approach:
- Conditional activation of anti-CD3 arm specifically within the tumor microenvironment
- Blockade of NKG2A, a key inhibitory checkpoint
- Targeting of tumor-specific antigens
This multi-modal approach positions CAPTN-3 uniquely in the rapidly growing multi-specific engager market. The platform's ability to simultaneously engage both NK and T cells while maintaining tumor specificity addresses key limitations of current immunotherapies, particularly in resistant cancers.
The collaboration with Mount Sinai's prestigious research team, led by Dr. Horowitz, provides important validation of the platform's potential. The focus on patient-derived tumors in the research methodology suggests a strong translational approach, potentially accelerating the path to clinical trials.
For investors, this represents a significant de-risking event in Purple Biotech's development pipeline. The growing interest in multi-specific engagers, coupled with the platform's innovative design and prestigious research collaboration, positions the company favorably in the competitive immuno-oncology landscape.
- Collaboration to explore the immunoregulation of NK and T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) by CAPTN-3, with the goal of enhancing tumor-specific immunity against multiple cancer types.
- CAPTN-3 antibodies are designed to promote innate-like antitumor functions by NK and CD8 T cells, through conditional activation of the anti-CD3 arm at the TME, blockade of NKG2A, and targeting tumor-specific antigens, potentially leading to improved responses in resistant cancer patients and overcoming the limitations of current therapies.
REHOVOT, Israel, Feb. 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purple Biotech Ltd. ("Purple Biotech" or "the Company") (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class therapies that overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, announced today that it has entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (“Icahn School of Medicine”) in New York, NY, to explore the immunoregulation of NK and T cells within the TME by Purple’s CAPTN-3 multi-specific engagers with the purpose of enhancing tumor-specific immunity against various cancer types.
“Partnering on this important preclinical work with the Marc and Jennifer Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute and The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine is expected to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of action for our innovative tri-specific platform in preparation for human clinical studies,” said Gil Efron, Purple Biotech CEO. “We have recently observed a growing interest in multi-specific engagers, and we look forward to advancing CAPTN-3 development as we prepare for first-in-human clinical studies.”
The Principal Investigator of the study is Amir Horowitz, PhD, Associate Professor of Immunology & Immunotherapy and Oncological Sciences and a member of the Lipschultz Precision Immunology Institute and The Tisch Cancer Institute. Dr. Horowitz, an expert in the immunoregulation of the TME in cancer patients, has demonstrated a novel immunotherapeutic target axis involving the interaction between HLA-E expressing tumor cells and NKG2A-positive NK and CD8 T cells, which suppresses immune responses in treatment-resistant patients. He and others have shown the HLA-E/NKG2A axis to be a dominant inhibitory checkpoint pathway in solid tumors.
Dr. Horowitz commented, “CAPTN-3’s dual potential mechanisms of action appear to be a promising indicator of the platform’s potential safety and efficacy to treat cancer through its synergistic regulation of both T cells and NK cells at the tumor microenvironment. In this collaboration, we plan to map how CAPTN-3 antibodies alter T and NK cell activation within the TME, specifically focusing on the modulation of HLA-E/NKG2A interactions and enhancing features of innate immunity.”
“The opportunity to deepen our understanding of the tumor immune evasion mechanisms that CAPTN-3 uniquely addresses is exciting, and we hope it will pave the way for effective treatments for many challenging tumor indications. We are looking forward to working with Dr. Horowitz and his team at Mount Sinai to validate the unique aspects of CAPTN-3 design in a wide screen of patient-derived tumors, potentially bringing new insights for overcoming resistance to standard frontline immunotherapies,” stated Purple Biotech's VP Research and Development, Dr. Hadas Reuveni.
In the past, Dr. Horowitz had been a paid consultant for Purple Biotech.
About Purple Biotech
Purple Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT) 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 CM24, NT219, and CAPTN-3. CM24 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks CEACAM1, which supports tumor immune evasion and survival through multiple pathways. CEACAM1 on tumor cells, immune cells and neutrophils extracellular traps is a novel target for the treatment of multiple cancer indications. As a proof of concept of these novel pathways, the Company completed a Phase 2 study for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with CM24 as a combination therapy with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab and chemotherapy, demonstrating clear and consistent improvement across all efficacy endpoints and the identification of two potential serum biomarkers. NT219 is a dual inhibitor, novel small molecule that simultaneously targets IRS1/2 and STAT3. A Phase 1 dose escalation study was concluded as a monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab, in which NT219 demonstrated anti-tumor activity in combination with cetuximab in second-line patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN (R/N SCCHN). The Company is advancing CAPTN-3, a preclinical platform of conditionally-activated tri-specific antibody that engages both T cells and NK cells to induce a strong, localized immune response within the tumor microenvironment. The cleavable capping technology confines the compound's therapeutic activity to the local tumor microenvironment, thereby potentially increasing the anticipated therapeutic window in patients. The third arm specifically targets the Tumor Associated Antigen (TAA). The technology presents a novel mechanism of action by unleashing both innate and adaptive immune systems to mount an optimal anti-tumoral immune response. IM1240 is the first tri-specific antibody in development that targets 5T4 expressed in a variety of solid tumors and is correlated with advanced disease, increased invasiveness, and poor clinical outcomes. The Company's corporate headquarters are located in Rehovot, Israel. For more information, please visit https://purple-biotech.com/.
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