Agenus Inc., a U.S. based immuno-oncology firm, has announced that it has started dosing its first patient with AGEN1223, a novel bi-specific antibody developed to reduce regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. The initial dosing was conducted in December 2019 and the study is currently ongoing, with plans to begin combinations with Agenus' investigational PD-1 inhibitor, balstilimab, in 2020.

As per reports, Dr. Anthony El-Khoueiry of the Keck School of Medicine and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, is heading the initial dosing program as the clinical investigator. He is the Phase I program director and a renowned expert in translational medicine and early drug development with a focus in pancreatic cancers and hepatobiliary .

According to a statement, Dr. Anna Wijatyk, Head of Clinical Development, Agenus, said that the drug is an exclusive bispecific antibody created to selectively diminish certain immune-suppressive cells termed regulatory T cells. The drug’s ability to deplete such cells in the tumor microenvironment could endow a significant treatment advantage for patients suffering from cancer.

Wijatyk claims that AGEN1223 was formulated to eradicate the escape pathways of tumors, which it commonly uses to resume its growth beyond numerous lines of therapy such as anti-PD-1 therapy. Their firm believes that because of the drug’s design to both activate effector immune cells and selectively reduce intratumoral Tregs while saving peripheral Tregs, AGEN1223 could position itself as a promising combination agent and a crucial novel therapy for patients suffering through aggressive tumors.

In 2019, AGEN1223 had achieved a milestone accomplishment when the biotech’s IND filing for AGEN1223 was accepted by the FDA. The approval strengthens Agenus’s partnership with Gilead Sciences Inc. and initiates a cash payment of $7.5 million.

According to Garo H. Armen, Ph.D., Chairman & CEO, Agenus, this approval comes as the third milestone for the company during its partnership with Gilead.

Source Credit: https://investor.agenusbio.com/2020-01-08-Agenus-Commences-Phase-1-trial-with-AGEN122