Eucure Biopharma, Syncromune To Develop Intratumoral Immunotherapy

Beijing-based Eucure Biopharma, a subsidiary of Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals, and US-based Syncromune Inc. have entered a licensing agreement that will combine Eucure’s OX40 antibody with active ingredients from Syncrommune’s Syncrovax cancer vaccine technology to develop an intratumoral immunotherapy. 

The deal is potentially worth “hundreds of millions of US dollars” and includes an undisclosed upfront payment, Eucure said. Eucure will handle drug manufacturing and supply, while Syncrommune will oversee clinical development and commercialization. 

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Personalized Immunotherapy For Metastatic Solid Tumors

Intratumoral immunotherapies are designed to use the tumor itself as a vaccine. Syncromune’s two-part Syncrovax technology first lyses a part of the target tumor to release tumor antigens and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that could stimulate the innate immune system’s inflammatory response. 

The second part of the platform involves injecting a combination drug with four active ingredients into the lysed part of the tumor. The components include an immunostimulatory molecule to activate immune cells, while the other ingredients drain the lymph nodes, cutting off cancer’s ability to block the immune response.

Syncromune is currently focusing its technology on metastatic breast, prostate, and lung cancer, while its overall pipeline targets six additional cancers.

Eucure’s OX40 antibody in the deal, YH002, activates the immune checkpoint molecule OX40 which increases the activity of cytotoxic T cells while inhibiting regulatory T cells that suppress cytotoxic activity. YH002 is undergoing a Phase 1 dose-escalation study in Australia to evaluate its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in patients with advanced solid tumors. The OX40 space has long drawn the attention of companies like AstraZeneca’s MedImmune and Pfizer for its potential in combination therapies. 

“YH002 is a co-stimulating molecule for the OX40 target, which has shown favorable safety and promising anti-tumor activity against solid tumors,” said Rong Chen, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Eucure, and Vice President of Biocytogen. 

“We are excited to collaborate with Syncromune to realize the potential in intratumoral immunotherapy,” said Chen. 

Author

Joy Lin

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