- Givastomig: a Claudin 18.2 ("CLDN18.2") x 4-1BB bispecific
antibody, will be the lead clinical program following the Company's
portfolio prioritization
- The Company has completed enrollment of a dose escalation study
of givastomig in combination with nivolumab plus chemotherapy,
and data is expected in the early second half of 2025; a
40-patient dose expansion study is now underway with data expected
in early 2026
- Cash balance of $184.4 million
(as of September 30, 2024), expected
to support operations into 2027, complemented by a strengthened
U.S.-based leadership team and streamlined operating model
ROCKVILLE, MD, Jan. 6, 2025
/PRNewswire/ -- I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) (the "Company"), a U.S.-based,
global biotech company, focused on the development of precision
immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of cancer, today
highlighted its strategic outlook for 2025 and a re-prioritization
of resources, with a focus on advancing its lead program,
givastomig, a CLDN18.2 x 4-1BB bispecific antibody, targeting
first-line metastatic gastric cancers, with further potential in
other solid tumors.
"I-Mab made excellent progress executing its corporate strategy
in 2024, including the establishment of a new operating model as a
U.S.-based global biotech company, completion of the divestiture of
operations in China, including
extinguishment of all remaining redemption obligations, appointment
of U.S.-based auditors, enhanced transparency through quarterly
financial reporting, and buildout of a U.S.-based leadership team,"
said Sean Fu, PhD, MBA, CEO and
Board Member of I-Mab. "Building on this positive momentum, the
Company has implemented a portfolio prioritization to support the
accelerated development of givastomig."
Portfolio Prioritization
Givastomig (TJ033721 / ABL111) is a bispecific
antibody targeting CLDN18.2-positive tumor cells. It conditionally
activates T cells through the 4-1BB signaling pathway in the tumor
microenvironment where CLDN18.2 is expressed. Givastomig is being
developed for first-line metastatic gastric cancers, with
additional potential in other solid tumors. In Phase 1 trials,
givastomig was observed to maintain a strong tumor-binding property
and anti-tumor activity, attributable to a potential synergistic
effect of proximal interaction with CLDN18.2 and 4-1BB, while
minimizing toxicities commonly seen with other 4-1BB agents.
- The Company will focus its resources on
advancing givastomig as its lead asset.
- Topline Phase 1 monotherapy dose escalation and dose expansion
data presented at the annual meeting of the European Society for
Medical Oncology ("ESMO 2024") showed:
- An overall response rate ("ORR") of 16.3% (7/43), including
seven partial responses ("PR") at doses between 5 mg/kg and 18
mg/kg, with five of the seven responders (71%) having received
prior checkpoint inhibitor ("CPI") therapy.
- A favorable safety profile, with mainly grade 1 or 2
treatment-related adverse events ("TRAEs"). No dose-limiting
toxicities ("DLTs") were observed, and a maximum tolerated dose
("MTD") was not identified.
- A Phase 1b dose escalation study
of givastomig in combination with nivolumab plus chemotherapy
has been fully enrolled (n = 17) with no MTD reached and no DLTs to
date; the Company expects to present these data in the early
second half of 2025.
- Based on encouraging early data from the dose escalation study,
the Company is expanding the previously planned dose expansion
cohort (n = 6-8) to include two dose cohorts, each evaluating 20
patients, for a total of 40 patients.
- Patients are being enrolled with tumors that express CLDN18.2
as low as 1+ intensity in ≥1% of cells, regardless of PD-L1
expression
- The Company expects to share these data in early
2026.
- This program is being jointly developed through a global
partnership with ABL Bio, in which I-Mab is the lead party and
shares worldwide rights, excluding China and South
Korea, equally with ABL Bio.
According to Phillip
Dennis, MD, PhD, CMO of I-Mab, "Data arising from this
study will not only help establish the breadth of patients who
might respond to this novel regimen (such as those with low levels
of CLDN18.2 expression that would not qualify for approved CLDN18.2
therapies), but also help establish the recommended dose of
givastomig for subsequent studies."
Uliledlimab (TJ004309) is an antibody designed to
target CD73, the rate-limiting enzyme critical for adenosine-driven
immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. I-Mab owns
worldwide rights to uliledlimab outside of Greater China.
- The development of uliledlimab is being paused to allow
the Company to focus resources toward advancing its lead clinical
program, givastomig, and to allow data to mature from an ongoing
China-only randomized study
conducted by its partner TJ Biopharma evaluating uliledlimab in
combination with a CPI (toripalimab) in CD73-high NSCLC
patients.
- As a result, further clinical investment in uliledlimab will be
put on hold.
- The Company will continue to monitor data as it becomes
available.
- I-Mab is positioned to potentially resume clinical development,
pending positive data.
Ragistomig (TJ-L14B / ABL503) is a bispecific, Fc-silent
antibody designed to provide anti-PD-L1 activity and conditional
4-1BB-driven T-cell activation in one molecule. Ragistomig is being
developed for solid tumors that are refractory or have relapsed
after exposure to CPIs. The program is being jointly developed
through a global partnership with ABL Bio, in which ABL Bio is the
lead party and shares worldwide rights, excluding China and South
Korea, equally with I-Mab.
- Data reported by ABL Bio at the annual meeting of the
American Society of Clinical Oncology ("ASCO 2024") showed
promising objective responses in patients with various solid tumors
whose tumors progressed or recurred after prior standard
treatments, including patients with prior exposure to PD-(L)1
inhibitors.
- ABL Bio is continuing the Phase 1b study to increase the therapeutic index by
altering the dosing level and/or frequency, and to identify the
appropriate tumor types for further development.
Financial Outlook
The Company's current cash position is expected to fund the
givastomig Phase 1b study through
dose expansion data readouts and further development initiatives
into 2027.
About I-Mab
I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) is a U.S.-based, global biotech company,
focused on the development of precision immuno-oncology agents for
the treatment of cancer. I-Mab has established operations in the
U.S. in Rockville, Maryland, and
Short Hills, New Jersey. For more
information, please visit us at:
https://www.i-mabbiopharma.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
I-Mab Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These
statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as
"will", "expects", "believes", "designed to", "anticipates",
"future", "intends", "plans", "potential", "estimates",
"confident", and similar terms or the negative thereof. I-Mab may
also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its
periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press
releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by
its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements
that are not historical facts, including statements about I-Mab's
beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without
limitation, statements regarding: the Company's pipeline and
capital strategy; the projected advancement of the Company's
portfolio and anticipated milestones and related timing; the
Company's expectations regarding its cash runway; timing and
progress of studies and trials; and the availability of data and
information from ongoing studies and trials. Forward-looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results to differ materially from those contained in these
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the
following: I-Mab's ability to demonstrate the safety and efficacy
of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug
candidates, which may or may not support further development or New
Drug Application/Biologics License Application (NDA/BLA) approval;
the content and timing of decisions made by the relevant regulatory
authorities regarding regulatory approval of I-Mab's drug
candidates; I-Mab's ability to achieve commercial success for its
drug candidates, if approved; I-Mab's ability to obtain and
maintain protection of intellectual property for its technology and
drugs; I-Mab's reliance on third parties to conduct drug
development, manufacturing and other services; and I-Mab's limited
operating history and I-Mab's ability to obtain additional funding
for operations and to complete the development and
commercialization of its drug candidates, as well as those risks
more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in I-Mab's most
recent annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of
potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in
I-Mab's subsequent filings with the SEC. All forward-looking
statements are based on information currently available to I-Mab.
I-Mab undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
I-Mab Investor & Media Contacts
Tyler Ehler
|
|
Senior Director,
Investor Relations
|
|
IR@imabbio.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-mab-announces-portfolio-prioritization-of-givastomig-cldn18-2-x-4-1bb-bispecific-antibody-as-lead-clinical-program-302342671.html
SOURCE I-Mab Biopharma