HCW Biologics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has designated one of its proprietary TRBC-pembrolizumab-based immune checkpoint inhibitors as its franchise immunotherapeutic to be advanced into internal clinical development for treating solid tumours. The company said that this lead candidate, HCW11-040, is a multifunctional fusion protein incorporating pembrolizumab alongside interleukin-7, interleukin-15, and TGF-β receptor trap elements.
According to the company, preclinical studies presented at a scientific seminar showed HCW11-040 outperforms pembrolizumab monotherapy in immune-cell activation, expansion, tumour infiltration, and cancer cell cytotoxicity. The company claims that the candidate can expand progenitor exhausted T (TPEX) cells, stimulate their differentiation into effector T cells, and avoid triggering cytokine storm when administered subcutaneously at projected efficacious dose levels.
HCW Biologics said that HCW11-040 will now move into late IND-enabling studies, including establishing a high-expression manufacturing cell bank, developing chemistry, manufacturing and control processes, and performing Good Laboratory Practice toxicology studies. The company develops its immunotherapies to address diseases driven by chronic inflammation, especially age-related conditions, and uses the TRBC platform alongside other discovery technologies.
