OSE Immunotherapeutics Invited to Present Mechanistic Data on Clinical Stage Anti-Interleukin-7 Receptor Antagonist OSE-127 at Two International Scientific Conferences


Data presented at the Annual World Congress of Digestive Disease in Rome, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, and at the Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance Europe Summit in London, Dec. 10 - 12

  • Presentations highlight OSE-127's differentiated mechanism of action and significant therapeutic potential for treatment of autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation.
  • Clinical Trial Application Approval to initiate a Phase 1 dose-escalation study with OSE-127 recently received.

NANTES, France, Dec. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnémo: OSE) was invited to present data on OSE-127, its anti-interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) antibody, including preclinical results from inflammatory and autoimmune chronic disease models and ex-vivo human biopsies, at the Annual World Congress of Digestive Disease in Rome, Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, and at the Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance Europe Summit in London, Dec. 10 - 12.

The data presented, partially described in OSE’s recent publication in Nature Communications(1), highlight the differentiated mechanism of action of OSE-127, currently in a first-in-human Phase 1 study, and confirm the potential therapeutic value of its further clinical development in inflammatory bowel diseases:

  • IL-7R, expressed on T effector cells and  target of OSE-127, is strongly overexpressed in colon biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel diseases who are in therapeutic failure following treatment with corticosteroids, immunosuppressors or anti-TNFα compounds.
  • In patients with active mucosal lesions IL-7R expression is significantly increased and is predictive for non-response to anti-TNFα treatment. Moreover, this non-response is strongly correlated to a mucosal defect in regulatory T-lymphocytes.
  • OSE-127 has shown:
    • A good safety profile in relevant preclinical models by selectively targeting pathogenic effector cells while preserving quiescent T cells and natural T cell regulators.
    • Long-term control of specific memory T cell mediated autoimmunity and chronic inflammation including local decrease in colon inflammation and a role in restoring a favorable immune balance between regulatory T cells and effector T cells.
    • Full antagonist properties in vivo via blocking two sites of IL-7R (“Sites 1 and 2b”). Two other mAbs against IL-7R that only target Site 1 were tested in parallel and presented paradoxical agonist and antagonist properties, thereby limiting their efficacy(1).

“OSE-127 is highly differentiated by its mechanism of action, which makes it a true antagonist of IL-7R and more likely to deliver therapeutic benefits and we look forward to initiating Phase 1 clinical trial,” said Alexis Peyroles, CEO of OSE Immunotherapeutics.

On Nov. 26, 2018, OSE Immunotherapeutics received authorization from the Belgian health authorities to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of OSE-127. This first-in-human dose-escalation, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1 trial aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single- and multiple-ascending intravenous and subcutaneous doses of OSE-127 in 63 healthy volunteers.

OSE-127 is being developed under an option license agreement with Servier* up to the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial, planned in ulcerative colitis, a bowel autoimmune disease, and in parallel in Sjögren’s syndrome.

*Servier is an independent international pharmaceutical company governed by a foundation with Headquarters based in France.

(1) Cf. Press release of October 26, 2018: Belarif, L. et al.IL-7 receptor blockade blunts antigen-specific memory T cell responses and chronic inflammation. Nature communications, 26 October 2018

ABOUT OSE-127
OSE-127 is a monoclonal immunomodulatory antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) that induces a powerful antagonist effect on effector T lymphocytes. Interleukin-7 is a cytokine which specifically regulates the tissue migration of human effector T lymphocytes, especially in the gut. The blockage of IL-7R prevents the migration of pathogenic T lymphocytes while preserving regulator T lymphocytes (2,3) which have a positive impact in autoimmune diseases.

OSE Immunotherapeutics has signed a license option agreement with Servier in December 2016 for the development and commercialization of OSE-127.

(2) Powell, N. et al. The transcription factor T-bet regulates intestinal inflammation mediated by interleukin-7 receptor+ innate lymphoid cells. Immunity 37, 674–684 (2012)
(3) Yamazaki, M. et al. Mucosal T cells expressing high levels of IL-7 receptor are potential targets for treatment of chronic colitis. J. Immunol. 171, 1556–1563 (2003)

ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics
OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmmune diseases. The company has a diversified first-in-class clinical portfolio consisting of several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. Our most advanced asset, Tedopi®, is a proprietary combination of 10 neo-epitopes aimed at stimulating T-lymphocytes and is currently in Phase 3 development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after checkpoint inhibitor failure (anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1). In April 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim and OSE signed a global license and collaboration agreement to develop checkpoint inhibitor OSE-172 (anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody) in multiple cancer indications. In July 2016, Janssen Biotech exercised a licensing option to continue clinical development of FR104 (an anti-CD28 mAb) in auto-immune diseases after positive Phase 1 results; termination of licence agreement effective Dec. 31, 2018 due to strategic portfolio prioritization and OSE regained all worldwide rights on this asset. In 2016, Servier signed a two-step license option to develop OSE-127 (monoclonal antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of the interleukin-7 receptor) to develop the product up to the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial planned in autoimmune bowel disease and Sjogren’s syndrome. In November 2018, OSE received CTA approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial of OSE-127.

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