BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aduro Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADRO) today highlighted an oral presentation given by the company’s chief scientific officer, Thomas Dubensky Jr., Ph.D., at the 4th European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Symposium on Immuno-Oncology held last week in Lausanne, Switzerland. The data, generated from multiple preclinical models, demonstrated important changes in the tumor microenvironment and the activation of acute and systemic tumor-specific immune cell responses following intratumoral administration of ADU-S100 (also known as MIW815), an investigational STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) Pathway Activator immunotherapy. Importantly, these preclinical data underscore the ability for ADU-S100 to induce tumor-specific memory mediated by immune cells (e.g. T-cells and NK-cells) whereby the immune system is able to eliminate specific cancerous cells upon their reintroduction without further therapy. Additionally, the anti-tumor efficacy achieved with ADU-S100 was enhanced by combination with an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, and resulted in the complete eradication of local and distal tumors.
“We are pleased to have further validated, through multiple preclinical models, our previous discoveries regarding the potential mechanism of action of the STING Pathway and the role it serves in stimulating a robust and systemic T-cell immune response,” stated Dr. Dubensky. “We look forward to working in partnership with Novartis on translating our preclinical findings to a clinical experience as we continue to make progress with our ongoing Phase 1 study of ADU-S100.”
Presentation Title: Activation of the STING pathway to induce tumor immunity
In the oral presentation which was given on Saturday, November 5, Dr. Dubensky presented data from preclinical studies using multiple models that demonstrate intratumoral injection of ADU-S100 activates the STING Pathway and induces a durable local and systemic anti-tumor immune response as evidenced by induction of type I interferons (IFNs) and a CD8+ T-cell response. Additionally, preclinical data show the combination of STING activation in the tumor microenvironment and PD-1 blockade enhances antitumor efficacy. There is an ongoing Phase 1 first-in-human dose escalation clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and possible anti-tumor activity of ADU-S100 in patients with cutaneously-accessible advanced metastatic solid tumors or lymphomas. To learn more about this trial, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About the Tumor Microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment is the cellular environment in which the tumor exists, and, along with cancerous cells, includes support cells, immune cells, surrounding blood vessels, and the extracellular matrix. The tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment are closely related and interact constantly. Tumors influence the microenvironment by releasing signals that promote tumor growth, immune tolerance and immune suppression. When tumors initially form, the body’s immune system recruits and activates a host of immune cells to fight the invading tumor. However, in cases where cancer develops, tumors are eventually able to evade the immune system by changing their microenvironment to inhibit the ability of the immune system to recognize and destroy the tumor thus allowing for tumor outgrowth and formation of metastasis.
About STING Pathway Activator Platform
The Aduro-proprietary STING Pathway Activator product candidates, including ADU-S100 (MIW815), are synthetic small molecule immune modulators that are designed to target and activate human STING. STING is generally expressed at high levels in immune cells, including dendritic cells. Once activated, the STING receptor initiates a profound innate immune response through multiple pathways, inducing the expression of a broad profile of cytokines, including interferons and chemokines. This subsequently leads to the development of a systemic tumor antigen-specific T cell adaptive immune response.
About Aduro
Aduro Biotech, Inc. is an immunotherapy company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies that transform the treatment of challenging diseases. Aduro’s technology platforms, which are designed to harness the body’s natural immune system, are being investigated in cancer indications and have the potential to expand into autoimmune and infectious diseases. Aduro’s LADD technology platform is based on proprietary attenuated strains of Listeria that have been engineered to express tumor-associated antigens to induce specific and targeted immune responses. This platform is being developed as a treatment for multiple indications, including pancreatic, ovarian, lung and prostate cancers, mesothelioma and glioblastoma. Aduro’s STING Pathway Activator platform is designed to activate the intracellular STING receptor, resulting in a potent tumor-specific immune response. ADU-S100 is the first STING Pathway Activator compound to enter the clinic and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 study in patients with cutaneously accessible metastatic solid tumors or lymphomas. Aduro’s B-select monoclonal antibody platform includes a number of immune modulating assets in research and preclinical development. Aduro is collaborating with leading global pharmaceutical companies to expand its products and technology platforms. For more information, please visit www.aduro.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions or current expectations concerning, among other things, the potential for ADU-S100, STING Pathway Activators and our other technology platforms, and the potential for eventual regulatory approval of our product candidates. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “project,” “expect” or the negative or plural of these words or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, our history of net operating losses and uncertainty regarding our ability to achieve profitability, our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates, our ability to use and expand our technology platforms to build a pipeline of product candidates, our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates, our inability to operate in a competitive industry and compete successfully against competitors that have greater resources than we do, our reliance on third parties, and our ability to obtain and adequately protect intellectual property rights for our product candidates. We discuss many of these risks in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.
CONTACT: Contact: Sylvia Wheeler SVP, Corporate Affairs 510 809 9264 Media Contact: Susan Lehner 510 809 2137 press@aduro.com
