Ellipses Licenses First-in-Class Novel Immuno-Oncology Agent
Ellipses Pharma Limited (“Ellipses”), a global drug development company dedicated to advancing cancer treatments, announced today that it has in-licensed the global rights to GENA-104, a first-in-class immuno-oncology monoclonal antibody targeting CNTN4, a recently discovered checkpoint protein highly expressed in various tumour types. GENA-104 was initially discovered by Genome & Company, a South Korea-based biotechnology firm specializing in the development of novel cancer-targeting antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Under the terms of the agreement, Ellipses will assume responsibility for all future clinical development of GENA-104, which will be referred to as EP0089 during development.
The significance of EP0089’s potential was highlighted in October 2024, when key research findings were published in the renowned journal Science Immunology. These findings demonstrated EP0089’s ability to target CNTN4, offering a novel immuno-oncology treatment strategy that could significantly benefit patients with cancers that do not respond to existing therapies.
In January 2024, the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety granted approval for a Phase 1 Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EP0089. With this regulatory milestone, Ellipses plans to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial in South Korea in 2025, with plans for expansion into the U.S. and Europe as additional regulatory approvals are obtained.
Professor Sir Chris Evans, OBE, Executive Chair of Ellipses, expressed enthusiasm about the development of EP0089, stating, “We are delighted to be advancing this exciting drug candidate through clinical trials. EP0089’s outstanding potential aligns with our strategy of identifying the best drug candidates, accelerating their development, and bringing them to patients as quickly as possible.”
Professor Tobias Arkenau, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer at Ellipses, added, “We are thrilled to in-license EP0089, the first biological agent added to our pipeline. Targeting CNTN4 represents a new approach that blocks the interaction between CNTN4 and APP checkpoint on T cells, promoting the killing of tumor cells. This innovative strategy has significant potential, especially for cancers that poorly respond to conventional checkpoint inhibitors.”
The development of EP0089 marks a critical advancement in immuno-oncology. CNTN4 (Contactin-4), a recently identified checkpoint protein, plays a pivotal role in immune system evasion by tumors. By targeting CNTN4, GENA-104 (EP0089) has the potential to overcome one of the barriers that prevent the immune system from effectively targeting and destroying cancer cells. This strategy could significantly benefit patients with cancers that currently have limited treatment options, including those that do not respond to existing checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors.
Y.S. (Yoo Seok) Hong, CEO of Genome & Company, also expressed his confidence in the partnership with Ellipses, stating, “The excellent potential of GENA-104 as a novel immuno-oncology agent has been confirmed through preclinical studies. With IND approval for the Phase 1 trial in Korea, we are excited to see Ellipses Pharma leverage its financial resources and extensive experience in oncology drug development to advance GENA-104.”
Ellipses Pharma’s innovative model is focused on rapidly advancing drug development by de-risking initial asset selection through unbiased vetting and leveraging the expertise of its Scientific Affairs Group, which includes over 300 leading oncologists. The company is committed to minimizing the time it takes to bring promising treatments from the lab to clinical trials and ultimately to patients in need.
Ellipses Pharma Limited is headquartered in London and focuses on the accelerated development of cancer therapies. By combining scientific expertise with an uninterrupted funding flow, Ellipses strives to transform the landscape of cancer care and provide novel solutions for patients with unmet medical needs. Through collaborations such as the one with Genome & Company, Ellipses continues to build a strong portfolio of innovative cancer treatments that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and redefine cancer care.
As the development of EP0089 progresses, Ellipses remains committed to advancing this cutting-edge immuno-oncology drug and expanding its reach to patients worldwide.
