Tharimmune Announces Option Agreement for Key Technologies for Generating HER2/HER3 Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs)

Rhea-AI Summary

Tharimmune, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced an option agreement with Washington University to develop HER2/HER3 antibody drug conjugates. The technology focuses on human HER2 antibodies, complementing Tharimmune's pipeline of novel antibodies. Prof. Schreiber from Washington University highlighted the importance of targeting HER2, a well-studied tumor marker. Tharimmune aims to develop antibodies targeting HER2 and HER3, potentially creating innovative combination therapies. The agreement enhances Tharimmune's early-stage pipeline by incorporating cutting-edge technology from Washington University, known for its expertise in medicine and biomedical research.

Positive

• Tharimmune secures an option agreement with Washington University for HER2/HER3 antibody drug conjugates.
• The technology obtained focuses on human HER2 antibodies, complementing Tharimmune's existing pipeline.
• Prof. Schreiber emphasizes the significance of targeting HER2, a widely studied tumor marker.
• Tharimmune aims to develop antibodies targeting HER2 and HER3, potentially leading to innovative combination therapies.
• The agreement enhances Tharimmune's early-stage pipeline by incorporating cutting-edge technology from Washington University.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Biotech Industry Analyst

The option agreement for exclusive licensing of technology for creating HER2/HER3 antibody drug conjugates by Tharimmune represents a strategic move in oncology drug development. HER2 and HER3 are part of the ERBB family of receptors, known to play a pivotal role in the progression of certain solid tumors. By securing rights to these antibodies, Tharimmune potentially positions itself to expand its therapeutic portfolio into areas that are under intense scrutiny for cancer treatment innovations. The focus on multi-specific antibodies and ADCs can be seen as an attempt to improve specificity and reduce adverse effects compared to existing treatments, which could translate to a competitive advantage if clinical outcomes are favorable. From an investor perspective, the success of this technology will hinge on the company's ability to demonstrate improved efficacy or safety profiles in forthcoming clinical trials. Close monitoring of their research progress and regulatory milestones will be key in assessing the potential impact on the company's valuation.

Molecular Biologist

The underlying science of targeting HER2 and HER3 receptors for cancer treatment involves intricate mechanisms of cellular signaling and tumor growth. Tharimmune's strategy to develop antibodies that overlap with different epitopes on HER2 and potentially fit HER3 suggests an innovative approach to disrupt these pathways more effectively. The ultra-long CDR3 domains derived from novel bovine antibodies mentioned could offer a unique therapeutic modality to access previously undruggable targets due to their small size and structural diversity. The synthesis of these biological components into multi-specific tunable antibodies and ADCs could yield treatments with heightened target specificity, minimizing off-target effects and potentially improving patient outcomes. The ability to access hidden epitopes is particularly exciting, as it may allow for the development of therapies that overcome resistance mechanisms that impede current treatments.

Pharmaceutical Market Analyst

In the pharmaceutical industry, the development pipeline's robustness is a key driver for a company's future growth and stock performance. Investors often look for companies with innovative approaches to address unmet medical needs. Tharimmune's announcement regarding its HER2/HER3-directed multi-specific antibodies and ADCs serves to enrich their early-stage pipeline and signals to stakeholders an ongoing commitment to target oncology, a market with high demand and potential returns. The incorporation of pioneering technology from a reputable institution like Washington University could strengthen investor confidence. However, the eventual commercial success will be determined by the clinical efficacy, safety profiles and the company's ability to navigate the complex regulatory landscape. It is also important for investors to consider the lengthy timelines and capital requirements associated with bringing new biologics to market.

• Obtained rights from Washington University to develop and incorporate human HER2 directed antibodies
• Complements early pipeline of novel tunable "Knob domain" antibodies for HER2 & HER3

BRIDGEWATER, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2024 / Tharimmune, Inc. (NASDAQ:THAR) ("Tharimmune" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of therapeutic candidates in inflammation & immunology, announced today an option agreement for an exclusive license with Washington University in St. Louis for the rights to develop and commercialize technology related to multiple hybridomas and antibodies directed specifically towards human HER2. The technology was developed through a collaboration of multidisciplinary researchers in cancer immunology at Washington University School of Medicine.

"HER2 remains an important tumor target where the need for novel treatments against this receptor will continue to be meaningful, and we are pleased that the work conducted at Washington University to develop these antibodies is being advanced by the team at Tharimmune," said Prof. Schreiber, the Andrew M. and Jane M. Bursky Distinguished Professor and a professor of molecular microbiology and of pathology & immunology at Washington University.

Tharimmune is advancing multi-specific technology targeting the extracellular domains of HER2 and HER3. These validated targets have been extensively studied and belong to the ERBB receptor tyrosine kinase family and are exploited by cancer cells to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis. HER2, an extensively studied target, has multiple approved therapeutics for solid tumors and evidence suggests that HER3 plays a central role through interacting with neighboring receptors. The Company is developing antibodies overlapping with different epitopes on HER2 in contrast to approved therapies with a potential for complementary fit to HER3, affecting novel conformational epitopes thought to be important in intracellular downstream signaling in tumor cells. The compounds developed by the team at Washington University could complement novel combinations to target known and unknown unique epitopes of the extracellular domains of human HER2 combined with internal efforts to create novel multispecific tunable antibodies and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).

"This option agreement allows us to further enhance our internal early-stage pipeline and develop multi-specific novel antibodies against an important tumor target," said Randy Milby, Chief Executive Officer of Tharimmune. "We are excited to continue the foundational work conducted by the collaborative effort of researchers at Washington University, a global leader in medicine and biomedical research."

The Company also intends to incorporate the work completed at Washington University to continue advancing internal novel antibodies derived in bovine animals or cows and resulting from ultra-long complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) domains. These potentially enable access to epitopes that had previously been hidden or highly inaccessible in traditional antibody development. With a much smaller size compared to traditional antibodies, combined with structural diversity, Knobs can bind to conformational, linear or discontinuous epitopes in "undruggable" areas of validated targets. This conceivable "multi-specific" capacity of Knobs^, are the basis of developing Tharimmune's early-stage pipeline including ADCs and may more efficiently target multiple cell surface portions compared to known or existing biologics.

About Tharimmune
Tharimmune, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of therapeutic candidates for inflammation and immunology. The Company's lead clinical-stage asset, TH104 is known to suppress chronic, debilitating pruritus or "uncontrollable itching" in PBC, a rare and orphan liver disease with no known cure. The Company's early-stage immunology pipeline includes novel multi-specific antibodies targeting unique epitopes with novel mechanisms of action against well-known, validated targets in multiple solid tumors, including PD-1, HER2 and HER3. Tharimmune has a license agreement with OmniAb, Inc. to access the company's antibody discovery technology platform against these and other specified targets. For more information please visit: www.tharimmune.com.

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding Tharimmune's strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "depends," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "ongoing," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences, include, but are not limited to, those discussed under Risk Factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other periodic reports filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this release. Subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's views to change; however, the Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated events, except as may be required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

Investor Relations Contact
ir@tharimmune.com
www.tharimmune.com

SOURCE: Tharimmune, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What did Tharimmune announce in relation to HER2/HER3 antibody drug conjugates?

Tharimmune announced an option agreement with Washington University to develop and incorporate HER2/HER3 antibody drug conjugates.

What technology did Tharimmune obtain rights to develop through the agreement?

Tharimmune obtained rights to develop human HER2 antibodies through the agreement with Washington University.

Who emphasized the importance of targeting HER2 in the press release?

Prof. Schreiber from Washington University emphasized the importance of targeting HER2 in the press release.

What is the focus of the technology obtained by Tharimmune from Washington University?

The focus of the technology obtained is on developing antibodies targeting human HER2.

What does Tharimmune aim to achieve by developing antibodies targeting HER2 and HER3?

Tharimmune aims to potentially create innovative combination therapies by developing antibodies targeting HER2 and HER3.

How does the agreement with Washington University enhance Tharimmune's pipeline?

The agreement enhances Tharimmune's early-stage pipeline by incorporating cutting-edge technology related to HER2 antibodies from Washington University.