NEW YORK – Medigene on Monday said that under a codevelopment partnership with WuXi Biologics it will advance a T-cell receptor-guided T-cell engager (TCR-TCE) targeting a KRAS G12V mutation presented by HLA*A11.
Medigene and WuXi began a three-year research collaboration earlier this year to leverage Medigene's TCR development expertise alongside WuXi's anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, TCE platform, and bispecific antibody platform WuXiBody. Using these resources, the firms aim to develop multiple TCR-TCEs for difficult-to-treat tumors. Both companies will own the TCR-TCE constructs developed within the collaboration, and Medigene has the option to further advance their development.
The newly chosen candidate, dubbed MDG3010, will target a KRAS G12V mutation that can be presented by the HLA*A11 protein. TCR-TCEs are designed to bind the TCR via a target and redirect the patient's T cells, which are then activated by the anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, leading to release of cytokines and cytotoxic molecules that facilitate cancer cell killing.
"We believe that the combination of Medigene's 3S TCR and WuXi Biologics' CD3 [monoclonal antibody] and bispecific platform offers the potential of a best-in-class therapeutic that precisely targets broad numbers of patients expressing this validated common KRAS mutation, in an off-the-shelf administration," Medigene CEO Selwyn Ho said in a statement.
Medigene has developed other TCR therapy candidates targeting KRAS mutations but last month announced it would pause development of these candidates to focus its resources on MDG3010 and other new TCR therapies. The firm hopes to advance its older KRAS-targeted TCR therapies through preclinical studies within partnerships.