Igenica Biotherapeutics doses first patient in Phase 1 clinical trial of IGN523 in patients with AML

Igenica Biotherapeutics, a company focused on the discovery and development of innovative antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, announced today that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of IGN523 in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The trial is designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics and clinical activity of IGN523, an antibody targeting CD98, a cell surface protein frequently overexpressed on AML cells.

"There is an urgent need for new treatment options for patients with AML," said Jorge Cortes, M.D., deputy chair of the Department of Leukemia in the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "IGN523, a novel monoclonal antibody with multiple mechanisms of action against a target important for the survival and proliferation of leukemia cells, could be an important advance in this patient population."

"CD98 plays a central role in the growth and survival of tumor cells, and is implicated in a wide variety of cancers, including AML and squamous cell lung carcinoma," said William Ho, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of clinical development of Igenica. "IGN523 has been shown to be highly effective in preclinical models and is an innovative approach to treating patients with these types of cancers. As Igenica's first clinical program, IGN523 showcases our discovery platforms and development capabilities. We look forward to advancing this clinical trial in 2014."

Source: Igenica Biotherapeutics