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news.US-based Igenica Biotherapeutics has dosed first patient in a Phase I clinical trial of IGN523 to treat relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
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The company is focused on the discovery and development of innovative antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer.
The trial is designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and clinical activity of IGN523, an antibody targeting CD98, a cell surface protein frequently overexpressed on AML cells.
MD Anderson Cancer Center deputy chair of the Department of Leukemia in the Division of Cancer Medicine Jorge Cortes said there is an urgent need for new treatment options for patients with AML.
"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," Cortes added.
Igenica vice president of clinical development William Ho said 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.
"IGN523 has been shown to be highly effective in preclinical models and is an innovative approach to treating patients with these types of cancers," Ho said.
"As Igenica’s first clinical program, IGN523 showcases our discovery platforms and development capabilities. We look forward to advancing this clinical trial in 2014."
The company is developing IGN523 for the treatment of multiple hematologic and solid tumors.
According to the company, IGN523 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to CD98, a cell surface protein involved in amino acid transport and integrin signaling.