On November 17, 2022 KAHR, a clinical-stage biotech company developing a novel, bi-specific CD47x4-1BB targeting immunotherapy that activates innate and adaptive immunity to treat solid tumors and blood cancers, and the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF), the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation’s (MMRF) venture philanthropy subsidiary, reported that the MIF has invested in KAHR to explore the potential of DSP107, KAHR’s lead immunotherapy drug candidate, for the treatment of multiple myeloma (Press release, KAHR Medical, NOV 17, 2022, View Source [SID1234624225]).
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"We are thrilled to partner with KAHR to help advance DSP107 as a potential drug candidate for multiple myeloma," said Peter Kosa, Ph.D., Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund. "This investment reinforces our commitment to drive the development of the most innovative treatment approaches for myeloma patients."
"We are excited to have the Myeloma Investment Fund join our syndicate of investors," said Yaron Pereg, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of KAHR. "This vote of confidence helps us advance the clinical development of our lead product candidate, DSP107, which is being tested in multiple clinical studies for the benefit of patients who are non-responsive or refractory to existing therapies."
Together with the current investment, KAHR has raised a total of $59 million since June 2021 in private placements supported by aMoon Fund, Flerie Invest AB, Peregrine Ventures, BVF Partners LP, DAFNA Capital Management LLC, Consensus Business Group, Hadasit Bio Holdings Ltd (HBL), Mirae Asset, Shavit Capital, Pavilion Capital, Cancer Focus Fund and Remedii.
About DSP107
DSP107 is a dual-targeting fusion protein that activates innate and adaptive immunity by blocking CD47 on cancer cells and utilizing 4-1BB conditional co-stimulatory activation of T-cells. By binding both cancer cells and immune cells, DSP107 combines checkpoint inhibition with tumor localized immune cell activation to bolster anti tumor immunity. DSP107 binds to and inhibits CD47, an immune checkpoint protein overexpressed in many cancers that enables the tumor to evade immune recognition and attack by macrophages. Simultaneously, when anchored to the tumor, DSP107 binds 4-1BB, a co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T-cells, recruits them to the tumor microenvironment and stimulates their activation. These activities result in targeted macrophage and T-cell mediated immune activation and tumor destruction.
DSP107 has demonstrated an excellent safety profile, no binding to red blood cells, biological activity, and high disease control rates in a Phase I trial of patients with advanced solid tumors. DSP107 is also being tested in combination with Atezolizumab in a Phase I/II trial in patients with advanced solid tumors and in combination with standard of care therapies for relapsed/refractory AML and MDS patients in a Phase Ib study.