LEXINGTON, Mass., Nov. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Agenus Inc.
(NASDAQ: AGEN), an immuno-oncology (I-O) company with a pipeline of
immune checkpoint antibodies and cancer vaccines, announced that
data on AGEN1884 (CTLA-4) and AGEN2034 (PD-1) demonstrated that the
molecules achieved the desired pharmacologic function and
combination synergy will be presented at the Society for
Immunotherapy of Cancer's (SITC) 31st Annual Meeting, Nov. 9-13th. Agenus recently
announced the launch of three clinical programs with these lead
antibodies designed as potential pivotal programs to support BLA
filings as soon as 2H 2019. These milestones are additional
evidence of Agenus delivering against its I-O strategy.
The Agenus strategy is built on a foundation of speed,
innovation, and combinations, each critical elements for success in
I-O. Agenus is delivering innovations through the smart design of
combination trials that accelerate clinical development. Over the
past three years, Agenus has built a broad portfolio of checkpoint
antibodies, including anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1, as well as an
extensive selection of potential best-in-class/first-in-class
compounds. The company has also successfully built end-to-end
capabilities from discovery to cell line development to
manufacturing to enable speedy, cost-effective drug
development.
"We plan to file our first BLA within two years and become a
commercial company within the next three years," said Garo Armen, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Agenus.
"We have built the manufacturing capability to generate clinical
product and manage commercial grade production to supply our
pivotal clinical programs and to supply material to our partners
for clinical and registrational programs."
"In addition, we are in multiple partnership discussions for
non-exclusive access to our CTLA-4 and PD-1 antibodies as well as
our portfolio of novel checkpoint antibodies," continued Armen.
Preclinical and clinical pharmacology of AGEN1884 and AGEN2034
programs will be presented at SITC Meeting providing further
evidence of the antibodies' functional activity both as single
agents and in combination.
- Abstract # P325: Characterization of the anti-CTLA-4
antibody AGEN1884, including toxicology and pharmacology
assessments in non-human primates
Presentation Time:
Friday, Nov. 10, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 8:00
p.m. ET
- Abstract # P312: AGEN2034, a novel anti-PD-1 antibody that
combines effectively with CTLA-4 pathway blockade to enhance T cell
activity
Presentation Time: Saturday, Nov. 11, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 8:00
p.m. ET
Earlier this year at ASCO, Agenus reported the first clinical
readout for AGEN1884, which showed safety, pharmacologic, and
preliminary clinical activity. AGEN1884 is now the most advanced
anti-CTLA-4 antibody in the clinic with the potential to be the
second to market.
Agenus initiated Phase 1 trials with AGEN2034 earlier this year.
This anti-PD-1 antibody has the desired in vivo pharmacologic
effect without any adverse events that were not expected in
patients with advanced/refractory malignancies receiving an anti
PD-1.
"The safety profile seen thus far with our PD-1, AGEN2034, is
important given the recent data reported at ASCO illustrating that
not all PD-1 antibodies achieve the desired outcomes. In fact, some
early stage PD-1 antibodies have shown lack of activity or
demonstrated unexpected adverse events," said Jean-Marie Cuillerot,
M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Agenus. "Our PD-1, on the other
hand, has shown functional validation to date on all key
parameters."
About Agenus
Agenus is a clinical-stage
immuno-oncology company focused on the discovery and development of
therapies that engage the body's immune system to fight cancer. The
Company's vision is to expand the patient populations benefiting
from cancer immunotherapy by pursuing a number of combination
approaches that leverage a broad repertoire of antibody
therapeutics and proprietary cancer vaccine platforms. The Company
is equipped with a suite of antibody discovery platforms and a
state-of-the-art GMP manufacturing facility with the capacity to
support early phase clinical programs. Agenus is headquartered
in Lexington, MA. For more information, please
visit www.agenusbio.com; information that may be important to
investors will be routinely posted on our website.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release
contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws, including
statements regarding Agenus' product candidates and clinical trial
and manufacturing plans and activities, the Company's upcoming
presentation of data at SITC 2017, its goal to file a BLA in the
next two years and its goal to be commercial in the next three
years. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the factors
described under the Risk Factors section of our most recent
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Agenus cautions
investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking
statements contained in this release. These statements speak only
as of the date of this press release, and Agenus undertakes no
obligation to update or revise the statements, other
than to the extent required by law. All forward-looking statements
are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement.
Contact:
Agenus Inc.
Jennifer Buell, PhD
781-674-4420
Jennifer.Buell@agenusbio.com
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SOURCE Agenus