Compugen Announces Expansion of Research Collaboration with Johns Hopkins University for a Novel Myeloid Target Discovered by Compugen

Research to explore the underlying biology and mechanism of action of the novel myeloid target for cancer immunotherapy

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May 10, 2021, 07:00 ET

HOLON, Israel, May 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Compugen Ltd. (Nasdaq: CGEN), a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a leader in predictive target discovery, today announced that it has expanded its research collaboration with Johns Hopkins University to include studies investigating the biology of a novel myeloid target that was computationally-discovered by Compugen. Initial preclinical studies demonstrate the potential of this target to serve as a novel myeloid immunomodulator, with significant tumor growth inhibition observed upon genetic deletion in in-vivo studies.

The research program, headed by Jelani Chinelo Zarif, M.S., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Oncology and Drew Pardoll, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Oncology, both at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will explore the biological function and mechanism of this novel target, which is expressed on myeloid cells and macrophages in various cancers. The expanded research plan is intended to further evaluate and validate the role of the target in various tumors.

"We continue to invest in our early-stage programs, which serve as our pipeline growth engine and remain a high priority for Compugen," said Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D., President and CEO of Compugen. "Our collaboration with Johns Hopkins has played an important role in the development of our clinical stage asset, COM701, and we are thrilled to expand this collaboration to deepen our biological understanding of this novel myeloid target selected from our early-stage pipeline. We hope that these studies will provide a strong biological foundation to support the future development of a new, potentially first-in-class, therapeutic program, which may diversify our immuno-oncology pipeline programs and offer a new treatment opportunity for cancer patients."

About Compugen

Compugen is a clinical-stage therapeutic discovery and development company utilizing its broadly applicable, predictive computational discovery platforms to identify novel drug targets and develop therapeutics in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Compugen's lead product candidate, COM701, a first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody, for the treatment of solid tumors, is undergoing a Phase 1 clinical study. In addition, COM902, Compugen's antibody targeting TIGIT, is in a Phase 1 clinical study. Compugen's therapeutic pipeline also includes early stage immuno-oncology programs focused largely on myeloid targets. Compugen is headquartered in Israel, with offices in South San Francisco, CA. Compugen's shares are listed on Nasdaq and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CGEN. For additional information, please visit Compugen's corporate website at www.cgen.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Compugen. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "will," "may," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "potential," "plan," "goal," "estimate," "likely," "should," "confident," and "intends," and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our hope that the studies will provide a strong biological foundation to support the future development of a new, potentially first-in-class, therapeutic program which may diversify our immuno-oncology pipeline programs and offer a new treatment opportunity for cancer patients. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Compugen to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Among these risks: the global COVID-19 pandemic may continue to negatively impact the global economy and may also adversely affect Compugen's business; clinical development involves a lengthy and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome and Compugen may encounter substantial delays or even an inability to begin clinical trials for any specific product, or may not be able to conduct or complete its trials on the timelines it expects; Compugen's approach to the discovery of therapeutic products is based on its proprietary computational target discovery infrastructure, which is unproven clinically; Compugen does not know whether it will be able to discover and develop additional potential product candidates or products of commercial value; Compugen's business model is substantially dependent on entering into collaboration agreements with third parties; and Compugen may not be successful in generating adequate revenues or commercializing aspects of its business model; Compugen relies and expects to continue to rely on third parties to conduct its clinical trials and these third parties may not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, and Compugen may experience significant delays in the conduct of its clinical trials as well as significant increased expenditures. These risks and other risks are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Compugen's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by Compugen from time to time with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Compugen's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Compugen does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.

Investor Relations contact:
John Mullaly
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 (617) 429-3548

SOURCE Compugen Ltd.