On November 9, 2022 Ambrx Biopharma Inc., or Ambrx, (NYSE: AMAM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using its proprietary Engineered Precision Biologics (EPBs) platform to create antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported the first patient has been dosed by Ambrx’s partner, NovoCodex Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NovoCodex) in its Phase 1 trial of ARX305 in patients with advanced solid tumors (Press release, Ambrx, NOV 9, 2022, View Source [SID1234623579]). ARX305 is the only anti-CD70 ADC in active development that targets CD70, a protein that is overexpressed in a broad range of solid and hematologic tumors, giving it the potential to treat a range of liquid and solid tumor cancers, where CD70 is overexpressed.
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According to their development agreement, NovoCodex and Ambrx will collaborate in the development of ARX305 up until the completion of Phase 1 clinical trials. Under the terms of the development agreement, Ambrx is eligible to receive up to $4.0 million in clinical milestones, as well as tiered royalties in the low teens percentage range of aggregate net sales of ARX305 in China from NovoCodex. As a result of the first patient being dosed in NovaCodex’s Phase 1 clinical trial in China, Ambrx will now receive a significant portion of the $4.0 million milestones payments.
Ambrx plans to leverage the safety data from NovoCodex’s Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial to inform its own Phase 1a trial, thereby efficiently using the company’s cash and resources. Specifically, using the data gained from NovoCodex’s dose escalation trial, Ambrx can reduce the expense of conducting its own initial dose escalation clinical trial. Building on the NovoCodex Phase 1 data, Ambrx plans to expedite its Phase 1a trial of ARX305 by starting at higher doses (i.e., doses closer to a recommended Phase 2 dose). Following the completion of NovoCodex’s Phase 1 clinical trial, Ambrx’s Phase 1a clinical trial for ARX305 is expected to initiate in the second half of 2023. NovoCodex is also responsible for funding a majority of Ambrx’s development of ARX305 through the end of Phase 1 clinical trials, up to a certain cap, and will be able to leverage Ambrx’s data in its own development of ARX305.
"The dosing of the first patient with ARX305 by NovoCodex represents an important strategic benchmark that will not only advance another Ambrx-generated ADC asset into the clinic, but also will allow us to leverage findings from the study to inform our own clinical trial," said Daniel O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Ambrx. "Leveraging partner data will both expedite internal development and cut costs, establishing a strong foundation from which to begin our own Phase 1 trial."
Mr. O’Connor added, "CD70 is highly expressed on the surface of a variety of hematological and solid tumor cells, and I believe the stability of ARX305 conferred by our proprietary EBP platform uniquely positions it as a potential best-in-class treatment for CD70 expressing tumors. I want to thank NovoCodex for continuing our strong partnership and look forward to continued progress as they advance ARX305 through the clinic."