On April 29, 2019 NexImmune and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) reported that they have entered into a partnership to advance a promising new therapy into clinical trials for multiple myeloma patients (Press release, NexImmune, APR 29, 2019, View Source [SID1234554879]).
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The MMRF’s newly formed Myeloma Investment Fund aims to attract the most promising companies and technologies to the field to advance new therapies for myeloma patients. The MIF has made an equity investment in NexImmune to help support the initial clinical development of NEXI-002, which is one of the company’s lead product candidates, and to help further develop the Company’s Artificial Immune Modulatory (AIM) technology platform.
"Regrettably, multiple myeloma remains an incurable malignancy. Patients who are refractory to standard treatments, or who have relapsed disease after at least three prior therapies, face a very poor prognosis. Newly approved, targeted agents have significantly improved short-term outcomes for these patients, however, most will eventually develop drug resistance and succumb to their disease within one year. This highlights the need for novel therapies with curative potential," said Scott Carmer, President and CEO of NexImmune. "That’s why we are very excited to partner with the MMRF to make our AIM adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) available to this specific patient population".
NexImmune is advancing immunotherapy products based on the Company’s proprietary Artificial Immune Modulatory (AIM) nanotechnology platform. The AIM technology enables simultaneous enrichment, expansion and priming of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells directed against multiple tumor-associated antigen (TAA) targets across a broad range of both solid and hematologic malignancies.
NEX-I002 is designed to generate cytotoxic T cells directed against multiple tumor antigens associated with MM. The Company has completed pre-IND discussions with the FDA, and expects to submit an IND to support this Phase I/II clinical trial in 3Q2019.
"Investments made by the Myeloma Investment Fund underscore the commitment of the MMRF to bring the most promising immunotherapy agents to myeloma patients as quickly as possible," commented Paul Giusti, President and CEO of the MMRF. "We chose to partner with NexImmune because of the potential for this technology to benefit highly refractory patients who have limited treatment options and significant unmet need."