On May 15, 2020 Molecular Templates, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTEM, "Molecular Templates," or "MTEM"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of the Company’s proprietary targeted biologic therapeutics, engineered toxin bodies (ETBs), reported that new preclinical data on its pipeline programs and technology platform will be presented at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Virtual Annual Meeting II to take place June 22-24, 2020 (Press release, Molecular Templates, MAY 15, 2020, View Source [SID1234558126]). All four posters are expected to be available on the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) website on June 22, 2020.

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Title: In Vivo Efficacy of a PD-L1 Targeted, Antigen Seeding Engineered Toxin Body
Authors: Hilario J. Ramos, Brigitte Brieschke, Sara LeMar, Joseph D. Dekker, Aimee Iberg, Garrett L. Robinson, Asis Sarkar, Banmeet Anand, Melissa M. Singh, Jay Zhao, Jack P. Higgins, Erin K. Willert. Molecular Templates Inc., Austin, TX
Session:Immunology: Therapeutic Antibodies 2
Abstract # 3366
MT-6402 is a highly differentiated approach to immuno-oncology. MT-6402 target PD-L1 and has been shown in preclinical studies to induce three unique biological effects:

Unlike current checkpoint inhibitors which bind PD-L1 and block interactions, MT-6402 directly destroys PD-L1+ tumor cells
MT-6402 can deliver foreign viral antigens into the target tumors to uniquely alter their immunophenotype to make them visible to CMV-reactive CD8+ T-cells
MT-6402 clears PD-L1+ immune cells and thereby potently activates the immune system
Non-human primate (NHP) data presented at the AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) meeting show that MT-6402 mediated PD-L1+ immune cell clearance can elicit highly potent monotherapy immune activation in a way that has not been seen previously in NHP models with checkpoint inhibitors.

Title: CTLA-4 Targeted Engineered Toxin Bodies Designed to Deplete Regulatory T Cells (Tregs)
Authors: Aimee Iberg, Edith Acquaye-Seedah, Lilia A. Rabia, Garrett L. Robinson, Hilario J. Ramos, Joseph D. Dekker, Jay Zhao, Erin K. Willert. Molecular Templates Inc., Austin, TX
Session: Immunology: Therapeutic Antibodies 1
Abstract # 2278
Tumor resident regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important mediators of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) promoting tumor immune evasion. The presence of Tregs, and a higher ratio of Tregs to effector T cells in the TME, are associated with poor prognosis. There is concern that antibodies to CTLA-4 are not sufficiently effective at clearing Tregs from the TME. ETBs are being developed to specifically target CTLA-4+ Tregs and clear them from the TME. The clearance of Tregs in the TME is expected to re-expose the tumor to the immune system to allow for tumor control. Because CTLA-4-targeted ETBs preferentially affect Tregs versus CTLA-4+ CD8 T-cells, ETBs may also have a safer profile than CTLA-4 antibodies.

Title: Novel Engineered Toxin Bodies Targeting SLAMF7 (CS1)
Authors: Aimee Iberg, Garrett L. Cornelison, Caleigh Howard, Garrett L. Robinson, Jay Zhao, Hilario J. Ramos, Erin K. Willert. Molecular Templates Inc., Austin, TX
Session: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics: Antibody Technologies
Abstract # 539
SLAMF7 (CS1) is a clinically validated target of monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma. The approved antibody-based therapeutic, elotuzumab, works indirectly by recruiting effector cells to the tumor but does not show single agent clinical activity. ETBs have the potential to deplete malignant cells by means of potent and direct cell kill through enzymatic ribosomal destruction.

Title: CD45 Targeted Engineered Toxin Bodies Deplete Hematopoietic and Malignant Cells
Authors: Aimee Iberg, Garrett L. Robinson, Sara LeMar, Joseph D. Dekker, Jay Zhao, Hilario J. Ramos, Melissa M. Singh, Erin K. Willert. Molecular Templates Inc., Austin, TX
Session: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics: Antibody Technologies
Abstract # 521
CD45, the leucocyte common antigen, is a haemopoietic cell-specific tyrosine phosphatase. Targeted and potent ETBs with intrinsically short half-lives are being developed to specifically destroy CD45 expressing cells including malignant cells of B, T and myeloid lineage. A single agent, targeted conditioning method for bone marrow transplant (BMT), employing ETBs, has the potential to increase patient safety and eliminate genotoxic effects that are associated with existing conditioning regimens.