Celldex presents CDX-1127 preclinical data against cancer at AACR meeting

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDX) today announced that new data on its preclinical therapeutic antibody program, CDX-1127, is being presented in a poster presentation at the 2011 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 102^nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The presentation (poster #4560) is entitled "Anti-tumor activity of a fully human anti-CD27 monoclonal antibody in a transgenic mouse model" and describes proof-of-concept data in mice and non-human primates with CDX-1127. The presentation is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT today (Tuesday, April 5) in Exhibit Hall A4-C at the Orange County Convention Center.

CDX-1127 is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting CD27, a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily with a critical role in the balance between immunity and tolerance. CDX-1127 has a dual mechanism of action - the antibody can function as an immune modulator through activation of T cells and natural killer cells and it can also function as a conventional antibody by direct activity against tumor cells that express CD27. "We have been diligently moving this program towards clinical development and the results we are presenting at this conference give us confidence on the translation of our findings from preclinical studies into patients with cancer," said Tibor Keler, Ph.D., Celldex's Chief Scientific Officer.

Key findings presented in the poster demonstrated the following:

• Mechanism of Action Studies: Demonstrated the agonistic function of CDX-1127 in combination with T cell receptor activation;
• Efficacy Studies: Demonstrated potent therapeutic effects of CDX-1127 in an aggressive tumor model with immune competent human CD27-transgenic mice; and
• Safety Studies: Demonstrated tolerability and lack of cytokine release in a pilot non-human primate study.

"With the approval of ipilimumab, there is growing enthusiasm for the potential of immune system modulating antibodies in helping cancer patients and CDX-1127 combines both immune modulation and conventional antibody functions into one antibody," said Anthony S. Marucci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. "We are looking forward to initiating clinical development of CDX-1127 later this year, adding to our growing pipeline of product candidates in our Precision Targeted Immunotherapy Platform."