Navrogen Announces Publication of Its Block-Removed Immunoglobulin Technology (BRITE) to Optimize Rituximab Activity in Humoral Immunosuppressed Cancers

CHEYNEY, Pa., Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Navrogen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specialized in developing therapies for cancer and immune-related disorders, announced today the publication of preclinical data regarding application of its proprietary Block–Removed Immunoglobulin Technology (BRITE) to enhance the efficacy of the CD20-targeting rituximab antibody in the presence of the immunosuppressive CA125 protein. The peer-reviewed study was published in Oncology Letters (www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2021.13120).

The study results showed that CA125 can directly bind rituximab and suppress its immune-effector  complement–dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody–dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanisms of action. Recent clinical evidence suggests that high serum levels of CA125 reduce the effectiveness of rituximab's clinical activity in patients with follicular lymphoma. In an attempt to overcome CA125-mediated suppression, BRITE was applied to generate antibody variants that were refractory to CA125 binding and retained efficient CDC and ADCC activity in the presence of CA125. BRITE is an engineering platform that generates and selects for proteins that are refractory to immunosuppressive factors. The application of BRITE resulted in the discovery of an antibody (NAV-006) with a single amino acid change that was refractory to CA125 immunosuppression while retaining similar antigen binding and immune-effector activities as the parental rituximab.

Dr. Luigi Grasso, Chief Scientific Officer of Navrogen said, "the findings here are another demonstration of the humoral immunosuppressive effects that proteins such as CA125 can have on antibody-mediated therapies and the opportunities that BRITE technology can bring to overcome their impact. Our BRITE-optimized rituximab NAV-006 will offer a new opportunity to treat CA125-positive follicular lymphoma patients in our efforts to combat this disease."

Navrogen is actively applying BRITE to improve other therapeutic antibodies affected by immunosuppressive factors for internal pipeline candidates and 3^rd party collaborators.

About Navrogen™  Inc.
Navrogen is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery of tumor-produced Humoral Immuno-Oncology (HIO) factors that are associated with suppressed humoral immunity, poor prognosis and limited therapeutic response of immune-mediated anti-cancer therapies. The company's mission is to develop first-in-class agents that can overcome the immunosuppressive effects of HIO factors by employing its proprietary screening and engineering technologies as well as diagnostic assays that can identify patients whose tumors produce HIO factors to advise physicians on therapeutic options. For more information, please visit www.navrogen.com.

Navrogen Contacts:

Investor Inquiries:
Nicholas Nicolaides
610-399-2717
[email protected]

Media Inquiries:
Steve Kyriakos
610-399-2718                  
steve@navrogen.com

SOURCE Navrogen, Incorporated