Medicenna Presents Updated Preclinical Data on MDNA113, a First-in-Class, Targeted and Masked Bi-functional anti-PD1-IL2 Superkine, at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
MDNA113 is targeted to the tumor site where it is activated to simultaneously deliver two immunotherapies, an IL-2 superkine and anti-PD1 antibody, to the same cancer fighting immune cells in the tumor micro-environment (TME) to maximize efficacy and minimize systemic toxicity
MDNA113 is our most advanced pre-clinical candidate that targets IL-13Rα2, a tumor associated antigen, which is overexpressed by immunologically “cold” tumors with high unmet needs in pancreatic, prostate, ovarian, breast and brain cancer affecting over two million patients every year
“We are pleased to show preclinical data demonstrating the ability of Medicenna’s first T-MASK candidate, MDNA113 to enhance tumor accumulation and tolerability of our potent bi-functional immune modulator, anti-PD1-IL-2SK,” said
The Company selected MDNA113, a novel, first-in-class tumor-targeted and tumor-activated bi-functional anti-PD1-IL-2 superkine with high selectivity and affinity for IL-13Rα2, a tumor associated antigen expressed in many aggressive solid tumors. The IL-13 Superkine (MDNA213) is a highly specific tumor-targeting/masking domain which is fused via a protease sensitive linker to a bi-functional immunotherapy domain (MDNA223) containing an IL-2 Superkine fused to an anti-PD1 antibody.
Key findings presented at the conference include:
- When not activated, MDNA113 shows reduced IL-2R agonism with no change to PD-1/PDL-1 blockade activity.
- Cleavage and activation of MDNA113 by cancer specific enzymes (metalloproteases) releases the T-MASK domain (MDNA213), restoring activity of the IL-2 Superkine at the tumor site.
- MDNA113 shows attenuated systemic lymphocyte expansion compared to non-masked version (MDNA223), consistent with design of MDNA113.
- MDNA113 is better tolerated than non-masked counterpart (MDNA223), supporting higher and more efficacious dosing schedule.
- MDNA113 selectively binds IL-13R⍺2 positive tumor cells in vitro, and durably accumulates (>7 days) in IL-13R⍺2 positive tumors in mice.
- Cleavable MDNA113 shows similar efficacy as non-masked MDNA223 in mouse tumor models by either localized (intra-tumoral) or systemic (intra-peritoneal) delivery, consistent with proteolytic activation within TME.
- Single neoadjuvant treatment with MDNA113 in a highly invasive orthotopic 4T1.2 breast cancer model significantly increases survival by preventing metastasis.
- In summary, the T-MASK platform exemplified by MDNA113, facilitates tumor targeting and minimizes systemic toxicity while maximizing therapeutic activity at the tumor site.
The poster, “Characterization of MDNA113, a Tumor-Targeting Anti-PD1-IL-2SK Immunocytokine with Conditional Activation to Increase Tolerability and Maximize Efficacy” can be found on the AACR website for conference registrants. It will be also available on the Scientific Presentations page of Medicenna’s website following the conclusion of the 2024 Annual Meeting of AACR.
About the T-MASK Platform
Medicenna’s novel T-MASK (Targeted Metallo/protease Activated SuperKine) platform involves fusion of a dual tumor-targeting/masking domain to an immune modulator (such as a Superkine or a BiSKIT) via a matrix metalloprotease (MMP) sensitive linker to (i) reduce and fine-tune the potency of the immune modulator, (ii) increase its systemic tolerability (iii) prolong its retention in the TME and (iv) to maximize and restore full potency at the intended target site. The T-MASK platform offers opportunity to target and fine-tune immune cell stimulation in the TME to improve the therapeutic index of Medicenna’s Superkine and BiSKIT platforms.
About MDNA113
MDNA113 is a novel, first-in-class tumor-targeted and tumor-activated bi-functional anti-PD1-IL-2 Superkine with high affinity for IL-13Rα2 without binding to the functional IL-13R⍺1. IL-13Rα2 is overexpressed in a wide range of solid tumors, including cold tumors. IL-13Rα2 is a tumor-associated antigen with minimal to no expression in normal tissues but is highly expressed by a wide range of tumors including “cold” tumors. IL-13Rα2 expressing tumors also have abundant MMPs in the TME that may efficiently activate MDNA113. IL-13Rα2 expression is associated with poor clinical outcome in multiple tumor types with an annual world-wide incidence of over 2 million in different tumor types including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and brain cancer, and among others.
About Medicenna
Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on developing novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first-in-class empowered superkines. Medicenna’s long-acting IL-2 Superkine, MDNA11, is a next-generation IL-2 with superior affinity toward CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta) and no CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha) binding, thereby preferentially stimulating cancer-killing effector T cells and NK cells. Medicenna’s IL-4 Empowered Superkine, bizaxofusp (formerly MDNA55), has been studied in 5 clinical trials enrolling over 130 patients, including a Phase 2b trial for recurrent GBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. Bizaxofusp has obtained FastTrack and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA, respectively. Medicenna’s early-stage BiSKITs™ (Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies) and the T-MASK™ (Targeted Metalloprotease Activated SuperKine) programs are designed to enhance the ability of Superkines to treat immunologically “cold” tumors.
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Forward-Looking Statements
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Source: Medicenna Therapeutics Corp.