On 22 June 2016, OGD2 Pharma SAS, a biotechnology company developing innovative anti-cancer therapies targeting the O-acetylated form of the GD2 ga nglioside (OAcGD2), today announces a collaboration with Green Cross Lab Cell (GCLC), a subsidiary of Green Cross Corporation, a leading South Korean biopharmaceutical company that delivers life-saving and life-sustaining protein therapeutics and vaccines (Press release, OGD2 Pharma, JUN 22, 2016, View Source [SID1234519565]).

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With this collaboration, OGD2 Pharma and GCLC will explore the potential of targeting NK-cells to the OAcGD2 antigen using humanized antibody and chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) for fighting against solid tumors.

"Thanks to this collaboration OGD2 Pharma speed s-up the development of its anti-OAcGD2 CAR platform. We highly value Green Cross leadership in allogenic NK-cell therapy and their proven ability to develop and to market cell therapy products " said Jean-Marc Le Doussal, President at OGD2 Pharma. " OGD2 Pharma will continue building strategic partnerships wit h academic groups and private companies in other fields of cell therapies. " he added.

Bok-Soo Park, Chief Executive Officer of Green Cross LabCell commented " To work with OGD2 Pharma as our partner for the development and future commercialization of cancer immunotherap y products targeting the OAcGD2 antigen is exciting, given their world-leading expertise in cancer immunotherapies against solid tumor. This collaboration underscores our commitment to maximise the value of our technologies and accelerat e their progress to the market through partnering with industry leaders. We chose to work with OGD2 Pharma as we believe they are best positioned to accelerate development of these programs and are fully committed to their success. We look forward to worki ng with the team at OGD2 Pharma to bring desperately needed new treatment options to cancer to patients all around the world".

About Greencross Labcell: www.greencross.com
Green Cross LabCell is a subsidiary of Green Cross Corp, a leading Korean pharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Seoul. Green Cross Corp. has annual sales of more than $1 billion across 14 marketed prescription products. The Company has been actively developing a nu mber of new technologies and products in the emerging cell therapy industry. Its subsidiary, Green Cross LabCell is focused on clinical development of MG4101, a random donor PBMC-derived, ex vivo expanded and activated NK cell product in a number of Phase II clinical trials in Korea, as well as developing next generation gene-modified NK cell therapeutics. Green Cross LabCell operates its own GMP facilities in Korea for production of NK cell based therapeutics. Its proprietary production platform enables al logeneic supply of therapeutic NK cells for multiple clinical trials. This technology platform holds the promise to dramatically reduce the cost of gene-modified cell therapies for cancer, while also aiding the quality control and industrial scale producti on of NK cell products.

About OGD2 Pharma: www.ogd2pharma.com
OGD2 Pharma SAS, headquartered in Nantes, France, is a pre-clinical stage privately-held biotechnology company. Our mission is to research, develop and c ommercialize, with pharmaceutical partners, safe and efficacious cancer immunotherapies targeting the O-acetylated form of the GD2 ganglioside (OAcGD2). Pipeline includes OGD201 humanized monoclonal antibody (EMA Orphan Drug Designation for neuroblastoma), chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), antibody drug conjugates and companion diagnostic products.

About O-acetylated-GD2
As its first cousin GD2, the OAcGD2 glycolipid is expressed at high copy numbers in the membrane of tumor cells in many types of pe diatric cancers (such as neuroblastoma) and adult cancers (such as glioblastoma, melanoma, sarcoma, breast cancer, etc.) and on cancer stem cells. Remarkably, and by contrast to GD2, OAcGD2 is not expressed by normal nerves and brain tissues.

About MG4101
MG4101 is a clinical stage cell-based product developed by Green Cross LabCell based on ex vivo expanded and activated NK cells derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from random healthy donors. MG4101 has completed a Phase I study in patients with a variety of terminal stage solid tumours and recurrent lymphoma patients (NCT01212341, Cancer Immunol Res. 2016 Mar;4(3):215-24.), a Phase II study in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection (NCT02008929), and a Phase II study in paediatric solid tumours (NCT01807468). Another Phase II study in HCC after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) will be start in Q3 2016. MG4101 and its associated production process provide the basis for the next generation of NK cell therapeutics being jointly developed by Green Cross LabCell and OGD2 Pharma

On June 22, 2016 Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leading predictive therapeutic discovery company, reported at the JMP Securities Life Science Conference in NY, COM701 as the lead monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate for the Company’s CGEN-15029 target program (Filing, 6-K, Compugen, JUN 22, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513507]).

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This antibody candidate is now undergoing preclinical development activities in preparation for advancement to clinical trials, with an anticipated IND filing next year. CGEN-15029 is one of multiple novel immune checkpoint targets discovered by the Company through the use of its unique in silico predictive discovery infrastructure.

COM701 was selected from among multiple candidate antibodies for CGEN-15029, which were generated through various antibody discovery technologies and screened at Compugen USA, Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in South San Francisco. This effort resulted in a collection of high affinity antibodies with the ability to block CGEN-15029 from binding to its ligand, and which demonstrated activation of T cells in functional studies. The selected hybridoma lead antibody demonstrated potent, reproducible enhancement of T cell activation, consistent with the desired mechanism of action of activating T cells in the tumor microenvironment to generate anti-tumor immune responses. COM701 was successfully humanized and has advanced into preclinical development. Cell line development has been initiated for this antibody candidate, and the Company has entered into agreements for the manufacturing and respective analytics of the therapeutic antibody.

The CGEN-15029 target was predicted in silico and experimentally confirmed to be a receptor-like checkpoint protein expressed on immune cells, with restricted expression on T and NK immune cells, similar to PD-1. Experimental validation systems established over the last two years have enabled Compugen to validate and advance multiple novel immuno-oncology targets, and have allowed Compugen’s scientists to show that this target is expressed in tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in various solid and hematologic cancer types. Over expression of CGEN-15029 was shown to decrease T cell activation, whereas inhibition of CGEN-15029 by knocking down its gene resulted in increased T cell activation, indicating that this novel target is indeed an immune checkpoint protein. With its established infrastructure, the Company is pursuing a number of immuno-oncology target programs based on other Compugen-discovered targets in addition to CGEN-15029, and has two additional programs that are the subject of an ongoing pharma collaboration.

Dr. Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO of Compugen, explained, “Selection of COM701 as our lead clinical candidate marks a new phase for Compugen, where we not only discover novel targets for immuno-oncology, but are now positioned to advance our discoveries into preclinical and clinical development on our own. The rapid progress of the CGEN-15029 program, with extremely aggressive timelines from target discovery and validation to therapeutic antibody development, was made possible in large part by the identification of CGEN-15029’s binding partner and the expansion of the Company’s immuno-oncology R&D infrastructure. In parallel to the CGEN-15029 program, Compugen is using this infrastructure to pursue additional novel immuno-oncology programs and is now positioned to advance them. In addition to the information disclosed today, the Company intends to share further data with respect to the CGEN-15029 program and the status of its Pipeline Program in the coming months.”

On June 22, 2016 Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leading predictive therapeutic discovery company, reported at the JMP Securities Life Science Conference in NY, COM701 as the lead monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate for the Company’s CGEN-15029 target program (Filing, 6-K, Compugen, JUN 22, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513507]).

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Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This antibody candidate is now undergoing preclinical development activities in preparation for advancement to clinical trials, with an anticipated IND filing next year. CGEN-15029 is one of multiple novel immune checkpoint targets discovered by the Company through the use of its unique in silico predictive discovery infrastructure.

COM701 was selected from among multiple candidate antibodies for CGEN-15029, which were generated through various antibody discovery technologies and screened at Compugen USA, Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in South San Francisco. This effort resulted in a collection of high affinity antibodies with the ability to block CGEN-15029 from binding to its ligand, and which demonstrated activation of T cells in functional studies. The selected hybridoma lead antibody demonstrated potent, reproducible enhancement of T cell activation, consistent with the desired mechanism of action of activating T cells in the tumor microenvironment to generate anti-tumor immune responses. COM701 was successfully humanized and has advanced into preclinical development. Cell line development has been initiated for this antibody candidate, and the Company has entered into agreements for the manufacturing and respective analytics of the therapeutic antibody.

The CGEN-15029 target was predicted in silico and experimentally confirmed to be a receptor-like checkpoint protein expressed on immune cells, with restricted expression on T and NK immune cells, similar to PD-1. Experimental validation systems established over the last two years have enabled Compugen to validate and advance multiple novel immuno-oncology targets, and have allowed Compugen’s scientists to show that this target is expressed in tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in various solid and hematologic cancer types. Over expression of CGEN-15029 was shown to decrease T cell activation, whereas inhibition of CGEN-15029 by knocking down its gene resulted in increased T cell activation, indicating that this novel target is indeed an immune checkpoint protein. With its established infrastructure, the Company is pursuing a number of immuno-oncology target programs based on other Compugen-discovered targets in addition to CGEN-15029, and has two additional programs that are the subject of an ongoing pharma collaboration.

Dr. Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO of Compugen, explained, “Selection of COM701 as our lead clinical candidate marks a new phase for Compugen, where we not only discover novel targets for immuno-oncology, but are now positioned to advance our discoveries into preclinical and clinical development on our own. The rapid progress of the CGEN-15029 program, with extremely aggressive timelines from target discovery and validation to therapeutic antibody development, was made possible in large part by the identification of CGEN-15029’s binding partner and the expansion of the Company’s immuno-oncology R&D infrastructure. In parallel to the CGEN-15029 program, Compugen is using this infrastructure to pursue additional novel immuno-oncology programs and is now positioned to advance them. In addition to the information disclosed today, the Company intends to share further data with respect to the CGEN-15029 program and the status of its Pipeline Program in the coming months.”

On June 22, 2016 Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leading predictive therapeutic discovery company, reported at the JMP Securities Life Science Conference in NY, COM701 as the lead monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate for the Company’s CGEN-15029 target program (Filing, 6-K, Compugen, JUN 22, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513507]).

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Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This antibody candidate is now undergoing preclinical development activities in preparation for advancement to clinical trials, with an anticipated IND filing next year. CGEN-15029 is one of multiple novel immune checkpoint targets discovered by the Company through the use of its unique in silico predictive discovery infrastructure.

COM701 was selected from among multiple candidate antibodies for CGEN-15029, which were generated through various antibody discovery technologies and screened at Compugen USA, Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in South San Francisco. This effort resulted in a collection of high affinity antibodies with the ability to block CGEN-15029 from binding to its ligand, and which demonstrated activation of T cells in functional studies. The selected hybridoma lead antibody demonstrated potent, reproducible enhancement of T cell activation, consistent with the desired mechanism of action of activating T cells in the tumor microenvironment to generate anti-tumor immune responses. COM701 was successfully humanized and has advanced into preclinical development. Cell line development has been initiated for this antibody candidate, and the Company has entered into agreements for the manufacturing and respective analytics of the therapeutic antibody.

The CGEN-15029 target was predicted in silico and experimentally confirmed to be a receptor-like checkpoint protein expressed on immune cells, with restricted expression on T and NK immune cells, similar to PD-1. Experimental validation systems established over the last two years have enabled Compugen to validate and advance multiple novel immuno-oncology targets, and have allowed Compugen’s scientists to show that this target is expressed in tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in various solid and hematologic cancer types. Over expression of CGEN-15029 was shown to decrease T cell activation, whereas inhibition of CGEN-15029 by knocking down its gene resulted in increased T cell activation, indicating that this novel target is indeed an immune checkpoint protein. With its established infrastructure, the Company is pursuing a number of immuno-oncology target programs based on other Compugen-discovered targets in addition to CGEN-15029, and has two additional programs that are the subject of an ongoing pharma collaboration.

Dr. Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO of Compugen, explained, “Selection of COM701 as our lead clinical candidate marks a new phase for Compugen, where we not only discover novel targets for immuno-oncology, but are now positioned to advance our discoveries into preclinical and clinical development on our own. The rapid progress of the CGEN-15029 program, with extremely aggressive timelines from target discovery and validation to therapeutic antibody development, was made possible in large part by the identification of CGEN-15029’s binding partner and the expansion of the Company’s immuno-oncology R&D infrastructure. In parallel to the CGEN-15029 program, Compugen is using this infrastructure to pursue additional novel immuno-oncology programs and is now positioned to advance them. In addition to the information disclosed today, the Company intends to share further data with respect to the CGEN-15029 program and the status of its Pipeline Program in the coming months.”

On June 22, 2016 Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN), a leading predictive therapeutic discovery company, reported at the JMP Securities Life Science Conference in NY, COM701 as the lead monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate for the Company’s CGEN-15029 target program (Filing, 6-K, Compugen, JUN 22, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513507]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

This antibody candidate is now undergoing preclinical development activities in preparation for advancement to clinical trials, with an anticipated IND filing next year. CGEN-15029 is one of multiple novel immune checkpoint targets discovered by the Company through the use of its unique in silico predictive discovery infrastructure.

COM701 was selected from among multiple candidate antibodies for CGEN-15029, which were generated through various antibody discovery technologies and screened at Compugen USA, Inc., the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in South San Francisco. This effort resulted in a collection of high affinity antibodies with the ability to block CGEN-15029 from binding to its ligand, and which demonstrated activation of T cells in functional studies. The selected hybridoma lead antibody demonstrated potent, reproducible enhancement of T cell activation, consistent with the desired mechanism of action of activating T cells in the tumor microenvironment to generate anti-tumor immune responses. COM701 was successfully humanized and has advanced into preclinical development. Cell line development has been initiated for this antibody candidate, and the Company has entered into agreements for the manufacturing and respective analytics of the therapeutic antibody.

The CGEN-15029 target was predicted in silico and experimentally confirmed to be a receptor-like checkpoint protein expressed on immune cells, with restricted expression on T and NK immune cells, similar to PD-1. Experimental validation systems established over the last two years have enabled Compugen to validate and advance multiple novel immuno-oncology targets, and have allowed Compugen’s scientists to show that this target is expressed in tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in various solid and hematologic cancer types. Over expression of CGEN-15029 was shown to decrease T cell activation, whereas inhibition of CGEN-15029 by knocking down its gene resulted in increased T cell activation, indicating that this novel target is indeed an immune checkpoint protein. With its established infrastructure, the Company is pursuing a number of immuno-oncology target programs based on other Compugen-discovered targets in addition to CGEN-15029, and has two additional programs that are the subject of an ongoing pharma collaboration.

Dr. Anat Cohen-Dayag, President and CEO of Compugen, explained, “Selection of COM701 as our lead clinical candidate marks a new phase for Compugen, where we not only discover novel targets for immuno-oncology, but are now positioned to advance our discoveries into preclinical and clinical development on our own. The rapid progress of the CGEN-15029 program, with extremely aggressive timelines from target discovery and validation to therapeutic antibody development, was made possible in large part by the identification of CGEN-15029’s binding partner and the expansion of the Company’s immuno-oncology R&D infrastructure. In parallel to the CGEN-15029 program, Compugen is using this infrastructure to pursue additional novel immuno-oncology programs and is now positioned to advance them. In addition to the information disclosed today, the Company intends to share further data with respect to the CGEN-15029 program and the status of its Pipeline Program in the coming months.”