Nordic Nanovector: Promising Results from Preclinical Studies with a Novel CD37-targeted Alpha Therapy for B-cell Tumours to be Presented at ASH

News provided by

Nov 01, 2018, 09:39 ET

OSLO, Norway, Nov 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANO) announces that an abstract reporting promising results from a research collaboration to develop a novel CD37-targeting alpha therapy for B-cell malignancies has been published. The complete results will be presented in a poster at the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition (1-4 December 2018 in San Diego, CA, USA).

The research collaboration was established in June 2015 with Orano Med (formerly known as AREVA Med) to develop and investigate a next-generation targeted alpha therapy, comprising Nordic Nanovector's chimeric anti-CD37 antibody (NNV003) and lead-212 (212Pb), for the treatment of B-cell malignancies.

The results published in the abstract relate to promising findings from preclinical studies investigating the dose-dependent efficacy and tolerability of 212Pb-NNV003 in human cell and mouse models of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and Burkitt's lymphoma (a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, NHL).

In the studies, 212Pb-NNV003 was found to be well tolerated and led to a 90-100% survival rate in mouse models of CLL and NHL.

Jostein Dahle, Chief Scientific Officer of Nordic Nanovector, said: "There is a strong scientific rationale for combining our CD37-targeting approach with other cytotoxic payloads, including radionuclides and toxins. CD37 is an important target for B-cell malignancies as it is selectively expressed on the surface of B-cell malignancies. Alpha-particles have demonstrated good potential for targeted cancer therapies because their high energy is limited to a very short distance of just a few cell widths resulting in localised cytotoxicity while sparing surrounding healthy tissues. The development of 212Pb-conjugated CD37-targeted alpha therapy therefore offers the potential to treat leukaemias and lymphomas where there is no substantial tumour mass and tumour cells are near healthy tissues. We look forward to further results from this research programme."

Abstract 4422

Abstract title: Targeted Alpha Therapy with 212Pb-NNV-003 for the Treatment of CD37 Positive B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Authors: A. Saidi et al.

Session Name: 642. CLL: Therapy, excluding Transplantation: Poster III

Date: Monday, 3 December 2018

Presentation Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Pacific time

Location: San Diego Convention Center, Hall GH

The abstract is available at http://www.hematology.org/Annual-Meeting/ and the poster will be published on the Nordic Nanovector website to coincide with the session.

About ASH

The ASH annual meeting is the premier event for scientific exchange in the field of haematology, attracting more than 20,000 attendees from all over the world. Typically, more than 5,000 scientific abstracts are submitted each year, and more than 3,000 abstracts are accepted for oral and poster presentations through an extensive peer review process.

About Nordic Nanovector

Nordic Nanovector is committed to develop and deliver innovative therapies to patients to address major unmet medical needs and advance cancer care. The Company aspires to become a leader in the development of targeted therapies for haematological cancers. Nordic Nanovector's lead clinical-stage candidate is Betalutin®, a novel CD37-targeting antibody-radionuclide-conjugate designed to advance the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). NHL is an indication with substantial unmet medical need, representing a growing market forecast to be worth nearly USD 20 billion by 2024. Nordic Nanovector intends to retain marketing rights and to actively participate in the commercialisation of Betalutin® in core markets. Further information can be found at www.nordicnanovector.com

About Orano Med

Orano Med (formerly AREVA Med) is a nuclear medicine biotech company developing innovative therapies in oncology. Orano Med has developed new processes for producing lead-212 (212Pb), a rare radioactive isotope used in Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), an innovative and promising approach of nuclear medicine allowing recognizing and destroying cancer cells while limiting the impact on nearby healthy cells. With its partners, Orano Med pursues the development of effective therapies to address patient needs. Orano Med is a subsidiary of Orano. More information about Orano Med: www.oranomed.com .

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, since they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and which, by their nature, will have an impact on Nordic Nanovector's business, financial condition and results of operations. The terms "anticipates", "assumes", "believes", "can", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "may", "might", "plans", "should", "projects", "targets", "will", "would" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology are used to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not historic facts. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with implementation of Nordic Nanovector's strategy, risks and uncertainties associated with the development and/or approval of Nordic Nanovector's product candidates, ongoing and future clinical trials and expected trial results, the ability to commercialise Betalutin®, technology changes and new products in Nordic Nanovector's potential market and industry, Nordic Nanovector's freedom to operate (competitors patents) in respect of the products it develops, the ability to develop new products and enhance existing products, the impact of competition, changes in general economy and industry conditions, and legislative, regulatory and political factors. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Nordic Nanovector disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This information is subject to a duty of disclosure pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Securities Trading Act.

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

IR enquiries

Malene Brondberg, VP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Cell: +44-7561-431-762

Email: [email protected]

International Media Enquiries

Mark Swallow/David Dible (Citigate Dewe Rogerson)

Tel: +44-207-638-9571

Email: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com