DynamiCure has dosed the first patients in its Phase I clinical trial evaluating the first of the company’s two anti-CD93 monoclonal antibody candidates, DCBY02, in adults with a wide range of advanced cancers.
CD93 is a novel target downstream of VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor) that has been shown to play a critical role in the abnormal development of tumour vasculature, limiting the body’s natural immune defenses and the efficacy of cancer therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.
In preclinical studies, DCBY02 demonstrated the ability to bind to CD93, normalising tumour vasculature, reducing hypoxia, and turning the tumour microenvironment (TME) from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory.
These changes led to improvements in both immune system response and the effectiveness of certain anti-cancer therapies.
Oliver Rosen, President & Chief Medical Officer of DynamiCure, said: “By targeting CD93, DCBY02 represents a new and differentiated approach to vascular normalisation and to improving the trafficking and infiltration of T cells into tumours. We look forward to advancing this trial rapidly to explore the full potential of DCBY02, first as monotherapy and then, should the Phase I trial achieve success, in combination with other anti-cancer treatments.”