On April 1, 2019 Innate Pharma SA (the "Company" – Euronext Paris: FR0010331421 – IPH) reported that new preclinical data from the Company’s innovative portfolio of next generation immunotherapies has been presented in a conference session by Pr. Eric Vivier, Chief Scientific Officer, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting held from March 29–April 3, in Atlanta (Press release, Innate Pharma, APR 1, 2019, View Source [SID1234534820]).

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Eric Vivier, Chief Scientific Officer of Innate Pharma, said:"Innate Pharma has always been driven by scientific leadership and we are very proud to present new preclinical data from our broad and innovative portfolio of next generation cancer immunotherapies. For the first time, we also shared data from our multi-specific NK-cell engager technology that highlight a new generation of molecules for fighting cancers."

While chairing the conference session"Innate Immunity and Complement in Solid Tumors", the following findings were presented by Eric Vivier in a lecture titled "Targeting innate immunity in next generation cancer immunotherapies" yesterday at AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper):

IPH5201 (anti-CD39) and IPH5301 (anti-CD73), targeting the adenosine pathway:

CD39 and CD73 are membrane-bound extracellular enzymes which play a major role in promoting immunosuppression through the pathway degrading adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into immunosuppressive adenosine (Ado). The blockade of CD39 and CD73 has the potential to promote anti-tumor immune responses across a wide range of tumors.

New data demonstrate that a combination of Innate Pharma’s anti-CD39 monoclonal antibody, IPH5201, and ATP-inducing oxaliplatin had a synergistic effect that improved the control of tumor growth in a preclinical mouse model.

Previous findings showed that IPH5201 enhances the stimulatory effect of ATP on antigen presenting cells and abrogates the suppressive effect of ATP-derived Ado on the proliferation of T cells from healthy donors and cancer patients. In October 2018, Innate Pharma and AstraZeneca entered into a development collaboration and option for further co-development and co-commercialization for IPH5201.

New data from a crystal structure of the CD73/IPH5301 complex support a model for the differentiated mode of action of IPH5301 and enhanced efficacy compared to competitors. Analysis by electron microscopy revealed that the IPH5301 monoclonal antibody interacts mainly with CD73 dimer in an intra-dimer mode, constraining the CD73 enzyme in an inactive state in which AMP could not be hydrolyzed, in contrast to other antibodies in development that interact in an inter-dimer mode. Findings presented at the 2018 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) conference demonstrated that IPH5301 is more potent in vitrothan benchmark anti-CD73 antibodies currently under clinical development, on both membrane-bound and soluble CD73, in enzymatic activity as well as T cell proliferation assays.

Innate expects INDs to be filed for IPH5201 in the second half of 2019 and for IPH5301 in the first half of 2020.

First-in-class trifunctional NKCEs create a new generation of molecules for fighting cancer:

Innate Pharma’s proprietary multifunctional NKCE technology targets two activating receptors, NKp46 and CD16, on NK cells and a tumor antigen on cancer cells.

New pre-clinical data outlined in the presentation demonstrate that these first-in-class trifunctional NKCEs are more potent in vitroand in vivo than clinical therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting the same tumor antigen, such as rituximab, obinituzumab or cetuximab, with nooff-target effects. The data also demonstrate that co-engagement of NKp46 synergizes with CD16 to potentiate both tumor cell lysis and NK cell activation.

NKCEs stimulate NK cells instead of T cells and have been designed to improve the benefit-risk profile for the treatment of solid tumors.

Innate Pharma has a research collaboration and licensing agreement with Sanofi for the generation and evaluation of up to two multifunctional NK cell engagers, using both Innate Pharma’s and Sanofi’s technology and tumor targets. Under the terms of the license agreement, Sanofi is responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of products resulting from the research collaboration. Innate Pharma is eligible for up to €400m in development and commercial milestone payments as well as royalties on net sales.