First in class anti-AMHRII monoclonal antibody is currently completing early clinical phases in ovarian cancer

GamaMabs Pharma, a biotechnology company developing optimized therapeutic antibodies targeting AMHR2 for the treatment of cancer, announces that two peer-reviewed articles have been published in the prestigious journal, Oncotarget, elaborating on the anti-tumor activity of GamaMabs’ lead compound GM102/3C23K for ovarian cancer. The studies were performed by GamaMabs’ partners, including the Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, Inserm, Institut Curie and the Institut Gustave Roussy.

GM102/3C23K is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting the anti-Müllerian human receptor II (AMHR2/MISR2) which is expressed in a large proportion of gynecological cancers. Having a high affinity towards AMHR2, GM102 displays tumor cell killing properties through the enhanced activation of immune system cells, thanks to its EMABling® glyco-engineering technology. Based on the studies’ positive results a phase Ia/Ib trial with GM102 was launched in July 2016, with initial results expected early 2018.

Both published articles drew favorable conclusions regarding GamaMabs’ GM102/3C23K candidate in pre-clinical models, describing how the compound displays an original antitumor mode of action through the activation of tumor-associated macrophages, which predominantly infiltrate the ovarian cancers. Interestingly, it has been shown that activation of those macrophages by GM102/3C23K triggers high tumor cell killing by phagocytosis followed by unlocking adaptive immune system resulting in anti-tumoral T cell proliferation.

The articles are available at:

• P Estupina et al - The anti-tumor efficacy of 3C23K, a glyco-engineered humanized anti-MISRII antibody, in an ovarian cancer model is mainly mediated by engagement of immune effector cells
• H Bougherara et al – The humanized anti-human AMHRII mAb 3C23K exerts an anti-tumor activity against human ovarian cancer through tumor-associated macrophages 

“We are absolutely delighted by the conclusions of the two articles, confirming the potential of our mAb,” said Jean-François Prost, VP R&D at GamaMabs. “Following the positive articles published in such a prestigious journal, we are looking forward to sharing the first results of our ongoing in-man Phase Ia/Ib study.”

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death in women, with almost 60,000 deaths every year in Europe and the United States. (Source: Globocan 2012/WHO)

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