Aduro Biotech, Inc., a leader in the development of therapies for
immuno-oncology, today announced data demonstrating potent anti-tumor
activity in preclinical models treated with ADU-S100, a proprietary
molecule based on the company’s cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) platform
technology. The data were presented by Thomas W. Dubensky, Jr., Ph.D.,
chief scientific officer of Aduro, at the American Association for
Cancer Research Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Conference being held
in Orlando this week.
The preclinical studies evaluated the ability of ADU-S100 to stimulate
and activate the STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) pathway to
generate an immune response that specifically attacks tumor cells.
ADU-S100 is a novel synthetic CDN molecule that was developed due to its
ability to stimulate human immune cells from a large pool of donors that
comprised all of the known versions of STING genes. In murine cancer
models, the data showed that direct intratumoral injection of ADU-S100
into melanoma, colon and breast tumors profoundly inhibited tumor growth
both locally and systemically, with a lasting response that provided
protection against tumor regrowth and significantly inhibited growth of
distal tumors.
“These are encouraging data that support advancement of our CDN
technology into Phase 1 clinical trials,” said Dr. Dubensky. “We believe
our rationally designed synthetic CDN compounds have the potential to
prime the immune system to recognize an individual’s unique tumor
antigen repertoire and provide effective immunity against it. With this
approach, our goal is to provide patients with a greater tumor targeting
specificity and ultimately a more effective and less toxic therapeutic
option to treat cancer.”
About CDNs and ADU-S100
Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are small molecule immune modulators that
target and activate the STING receptor. Once activated, STING initiates
a profound innate immune response by signaling through multiple distinct
pathways, inducing the expression of a broad profile of interferons,
cytokines and chemokines that shape the development of an effective
specific T cell and antibody adaptive immune response. Recent
advancements in the field of STING biology have created enthusiasm about
the potential for STING-targeting drug candidates across diverse
applications. ADU-S100 is Aduro’s lead proprietary synthetic CDN
designed to activate all known human STING alleles and to be
significantly more potent than naturally occurring CDN molecules and TLR
agonists. ADU-S100 has a high translational potential as a therapeutic
approach to elicit an effective immune response against a diverse tumor
antigen repertoire that is unique to the targeted tumors.
About Aduro Biotech, Inc.
Aduro Biotech, Inc. is a private, clinical-stage biotechnology company
focused on immunotherapy for cancer. Aduro’s lead platform is based on
proprietary strains of live-attenuated, double-deleted (LADD) Listeria
monocytogenes that induce a potent innate immune response and have
been engineered to express tumor-associated antigens to induce
tumor-specific T cell-mediated immunity. Aduro has received Breakthrough
Therapy Designation from the FDA for its lead LADD strain, CRS-207, in
combination with GVAX Pancreas in pancreatic cancer. The company is
evaluating the proprietary immunotherapy combination in the ongoing
Phase 2b ECLIPSE clinical trial and has additional ongoing
clinical trials with its LADD platform in mesothelioma and glioblastoma.
The company is also developing clinical candidates using novel small
molecules that activate the intracellular STING receptor, a central
mediator of the innate immune response. For more information, please
visit www.aduro.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014