On July 9, 2019 PureTech Health plc (LSE: PRTC) ("PureTech"), an advanced biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for dysfunctions of the Brain-Immune-Gut (BIG) axis, reported that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 10,344,091 to support the Company’s internal immuno-oncology product candidate, LYT-200 (Press release, PureTech Health, JUL 9, 2019, View Source [SID1234537440]). The patent covers compositions of matter directed to fully human anti-galectin-9 antibodies, which PureTech intends to develop for historically difficult-to-treat cancers including pancreatic, colorectal, and cholangiocarcinoma, among other cancer types. PureTech intends to file an investigational new drug (IND) application for LYT-200 in the first half of 2020.
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"PureTech’s galectin-9 antibody has been designed to address the challenges encountered with current immuno-oncology treatments due to redundancies in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Our now patented antibody composition leverages a new mechanism of action to disrupt the immunosuppressive environment, potentially enabling the body’s immune system to attack cancers that have historically been hard to treat," said Joe Bolen, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of PureTech. "This patent provides important coverage for our immuno-oncology program, and we look forward to continuing the development of LYT-200 to address the tremendous patient need that exists."
Galectin-9 induces robust immunosuppression that allows tumors to evade immune system attack. It is a foundational immune modulator that is expressed in the tumor microenvironment, on tumor cells, and in the blood of cancer patients, globally inducing and maintaining immunosuppression in cancer. High galectin-9 expression has been demonstrated in a number of patient tumor samples, including those that do not respond well to current checkpoint inhibitors. By blocking galectin-9, PureTech’s potentially first-in-class, fully human, monoclonal antibody is designed to intercept the immunosuppressive pathways that galectin-9 stimulates, potentially enabling an immune-mediated response against tumors. While existing therapies have not been sufficiently effective in the treatment of aggressive tumors, PureTech’s approach has shown favorable drug properties and safety in pre-clinical models, and it is being explored as both a single-agent and in combination with other modalities for cancer treatment, including other immunotherapies and chemotherapies.
About LYT-200
PureTech’s immuno-oncology program, LYT-200, is a fully human, potentially first-in-class, IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to target galectin-9, which is a fundamental immunosuppressive mechanism in hard-to-treat cancers such as pancreatic, colorectal, and cholangiocarcinoma, among other tumor types. LYT-200 has demonstrated proof-of-concept in both mouse and preclinical human cancer models, indicating that targeting galectin-9 activates T cells in tumors and reduces tumor growth, which could significantly extend survival. These data suggest that LYT-200 has strong potential to be used as both a monotherapy and in combination with existing immuno-oncology therapies. PureTech intends to file an investigational new drug (IND) application for LYT-200 in the first half of 2020.