Palleon Pharmaceuticals Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1/2 Study of Lead Glyco-Immunology Drug Candidate for Oncology
GLIMMER-01 (Glycan-Mediated Immune Regulation) study will evaluate safety, pharmacodynamic effects, and antitumor activity of Palleon’s first-in-class immunotherapy, E-602, in patients with advanced cancer
Initiation of this clinical trial marks an important milestone in the battle to overcome immune resistance in cancer by exploring novel approaches to immunotherapy
WALTHAM, Mass., March 8, 2022 — Palleon Pharmaceuticals, a company pioneering the field of glyco-immunology to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced dosing of the first patient in the company’s Phase 1/2 study of E-602 in patients with advanced cancers. The study, called GLIMMER-01 (Glycan-Mediated Immune Regulation), is the first clinical study of Palleon’s novel approach to cancer immunotherapy which targets immunosuppressive sialoglycans.
E-602 is Palleon’s lead program in oncology and the first candidate generated from the company’s EAGLE platform. E-602 is composed of two engineered human sialidase molecules fused to a human monoclonal antibody. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that E-602 degrades terminal sialic acids on immunosuppressive sialoglycans on both tumor cells and immune cells, restoring both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity.
“We’re very excited to bring our first therapeutic candidate into the clinic. This milestone is significant not just for Palleon, but for the broader immuno-oncology community, as we test a bold new approach to releasing immune suppression by modifying cancer cell-surface glycans,” said Jim Broderick, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Palleon. “We continue to pursue research at the forefront of glyco-immunology to advance other novel therapies for cancer and inflammatory diseases into the clinic and ultimately to patients.”
The GLIMMER-01 trial (NCT05259696) is an open-label, dose-escalation, and dose-expansion study. It will evaluate safety, pharmacodynamic effects, and antitumor activity of E-602, both as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1). The study will enroll patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer.
“First generation immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated remarkable efficacy for patients with many types of cancer. However, only a minority of patients benefit from these therapies,” said David Feltquate, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of Palleon. “Novel approaches to overcoming immune resistance are needed. Today marks an important milestone for the nascent field of glyco-immunology as we explore the potential of altering the immune suppressing effects of inhibitory sialoglycans.”
For more information on the trial, please visit clinicaltrials.gov.
About Palleon Pharmaceuticals
Palleon Pharmaceuticals is the leading biotechnology company developing drugs that harness glyco-immunology to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases. The company’s proprietary platforms overcome scientific hurdles in the glycobiology field to create novel therapeutics for devastating diseases characterized by immune system dysfunction. Palleon’s lead program in oncology, E-602, is an enzymatic degrader of immunosuppressive sialoglycans on tumors and immune cells which is now being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 study (NCT05259696). www.palleonpharma.com
Palleon Media Contact
Thomas Stephenson
Ten Bridge Communications
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