CT Atlantic AG, a biotech company focused on the identification and development of human-derived monoclonal antibodies (HD-MAB) as novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, presented preclinical proof of concept data for its lead HD-MAB CTA001.12D7 that support its advancement into clinical development for the treatment of cancer.

In vivo studies demonstrated that CTA001.12D7 — the first human-derived antibody against cancer-testis (CT) antigen NY-ESO-1 — efficiently inhibits the growth of tumors in mice acting synergistically with chemotherapy. The results from these studies will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on April 5th, 2011. “Based on its novel mechanism of action, CTA001.12D7 supports the patient’s ability to generate long-term anti-tumor immunity,” commented Dr. Martin Treder, CSO of CT Atlantic AG.

CTA001.12D7 was rescued from a melanoma patient with a favorable clinical course and was subsequently characterized in vitro and in vivo. CTA001.12D7 is a high affinity, functionally active antibody with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. In vivo efficacy of CTA001.12D7 was associated with enhanced anti-tumor immune responses, suggesting that it exerts its anti-tumor effects through a novel mechanism termed Antibody-Facilitated T cell Induction in Cancer (AFTIC).

Prof. Alexander Knuth, scientific founder of CT Atlantic AG and Chairman of the Department of Oncology, University Hospital Zurich, commented: “These exciting data for CTA-001.12D7 suggest that targeting of intracellular CT antigens such as NY-ESO-1 with specific antibodies has great potential for defining a new therapeutic class in cancer medicine.”

Date: April 5, 2011
Source: CT Atlantic AG