À̹ÌÁö È®´ë CrystalGenomics, a Korean biopharmaceutical company announced on Tuesday it has signed a co-development agreement with U.S.-based CBT Pharmaceuticals for an investigational combination therapy of CG200745 and CBT-501 across a variety of solid tumors with high unmet medical needs.
CG200745 from CrystalGenomics is a novel pan-HDAC inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical study for pancreatic cancer and Phase Ib for myelodysplastic syndrome in Korea.
CBT-501 from CBT Pharmaceuticals is a novel IgG4 humanized monoclonal antibody against the Programmable Death-1 (PD-1) membrane receptor on immune cells. CBT-501 is under evaluation in two Phase I trials designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors, recurrent or refractory to standard of care therapies.
Under the exclusive agreement, the duo will be responsible for the co-development and global commercialization of the combination of CG200745 and CBT-501 in multiple tumor types, including hepatocarcinoma correlated with poor prognosis.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) have been proven effective but many patients do not respond due to resistance. Recent reports suggest immune enhancing effects of HDAC inhibitors, in addition to their direct anti-tumor properties, making CG200745 a good candidate for combination therapy with CBT-501, according to CBT Pharmaceuticals.
Shares of Kosdaq-listed CrystalGenomics finished Wednesday down 2.8 percent at 26,000 won ($24.06).
By Shin Chan-ok and Minu Kim
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]