BOSTON, Oct. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Compass Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CMPX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics to treat cancer, today announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada). The collaboration allows for the evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Compass’ CTX-471, a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds and activates a novel epitope of the costimulatory receptor CD137 (expressed on T cells and NK cells) in combination with Merck’s anti- PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in a phase 1b study. Under the terms of the agreement, Compass is the study sponsor and Merck will provide clinical supply of KEYTRUDA; The companies will form a joint development committee to review the clinical trial results.
“We are excited to be collaborating with Merck, a leader in immuno-oncology, and leveraging their expertise in pursuing therapies to treat patients who have progressed on prior anti-PD-1 therapy. Because our phase 1b study of CTX-471 showed a response to monotherapy in patients in the post-PD-1/PD-L1 setting, we believe a combination study is a logical progression,” said Vered Bisker-Leib , Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Compass Therapeutics.
The combination arm of the Phase 1b study will enroll patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, and head and neck cancer who will recover after treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 Inhibitor. Immediately after progression, patients will be treated with KEYTRUDA in combination with CTX-471. The first part of the study will consist of escalating doses of CTX-471 with a fixed dose of KEYTRUDA, followed by a dose escalation in the second part of the study. Patient evaluation will assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity of CTX-471 in combination with KEYTRUDA.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
About CTX-471
CTX-471 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to and activates a novel epitope of the costimulatory receptor CD137, also known as 4-1BB, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. The antibody is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with solid tumors that have progressed after at least three months on an approved PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor. Initial results reported from a monotherapy cohort of the study included partial responses in melanoma, small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma, and CTX-471 was generally well tolerated. In preclinical studies, CTX-471 has demonstrated potent monotherapy activity against multiple syngeneic tumor models, including long-term functional immunological memory generation.
About Compass Therapeutics
Compass Therapeutics, Inc. is an oncology-focused clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary antibody-based therapeutics to treat multiple human diseases. The scientific focus of Compass is the relationship between angiogenesis, the immune system and tumor growth. The Company’s pipeline of novel product candidates is designed to target multiple critical biological pathways required for an effective anti-tumor response. These include modulation of the microvasculature by agents targeting angiogenesis, induction of a potent immune response via activators on effector cells in the tumor microenvironment, and alleviation of immunosuppressive mechanisms used by tumors to evade immune surveillance. Compass plans to advance its product candidates through clinical development, both as standalone therapies and in combination with pipeline proprietary antibodies, based on supporting clinical and non-clinical data. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit Compass Therapeutics’ website at https://www.compasstherapeutics.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, references to the Company’s clinical collaboration with Merck, business and development plans and statements regarding the Company’s product candidates, their development, related registration plans and their therapeutic potential, planned regulatory interactions and planned clinical development. Actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. These factors include, among others, the Company’s ability to raise the additional funds it requires to pursue its business and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing product candidates and operating as a development-stage company , as well as the Company’s ability to identify additional product candidates for development, the Company’s ability to develop our product candidates, complete clinical studies, receive approval for them and commercialize them, competition in the industry in which the Company operates operates and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information contained herein and also refer to the risk factor disclosures contained in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov, including but not limited to our most recent Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the SEC.
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