REHOVOT, Israel, Nov. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purple Biotech Ltd. (“Purple Biotech”, or the “Company”) (NASDAQ/TASE: PPBT), a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class, effective and durable therapies that harness the power of the tumor microenvironment to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, today announced that it is presenting data that provide a strong rationale for advancing CM24 as an anti-cancer, anti-metastatic agent.  The poster, entitled “CM24, a Novel Anti-CEACAM1 mAb, Suppresses Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET)-induced Migration and Metastasis of Cancer Cells,” is presented at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference: Cancer Metastasis, taking place in Portland, Oregon, US, on November 14-17, 2022.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like DNA structures covered with cancer-promoting proteins released by activated neutrophils. Multiple studies have shown that NETs play a key role in the tumor microenvironment, furthering tumor progression, immune evasion and tumor migration and metastasis, which makes them a valid target for cancer drug development.  NET-associated CEACAM1 constitutes adhesion focal for cancer cells and, therefore, is suggested as a potential therapeutic target for preventing metastatic progression.

Based on both in vitro and in vivo research, Purple Biotech presents data showing for the first time that its novel immune checkpoint inhibitor CM24, which is active against CEACAM1, is also active against NET-related activity. The preclinical data show that CM24 binds to the NET structure, significantly suppressing NET-induced cancer cell migration and inhibiting cancer metastasis in mouse models.  These results and additional data to be presented in the poster, support a strong rationale for advancing CM24 as an anti-cancer and anti-metastatic agent, that may improve patients’ survival.

Gil Efron, Chief Executive Officer, Purple Biotech.

CM24 is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody with the potential to treat multiple cancers. Currently in Phase 2, the Company is evaluating CM24 in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (PDAC) in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and chemotherapy. The primary study endpoint is to evaluate preliminary efficacy in 2nd line PDAC.

“These data demonstrate the potential of CM24 as a powerful treatment for patients with cancer,” said Gil Efron, Chief Executive Officer, Purple Biotech. “This novel mechanism of action suggests that CM24 has the potential to become a significant anti-cancer and anti-metastasis agent across multiple types of solid tumors. We look forward to continuing the research into this therapeutic approach in conjunction with our Phase 2 clinical study in PDAC.”

“Although metastatic dissemination and progression are responsible for 90% of cancer deaths, they receive less attention in clinical investigation compared to treating primary tumors or secondary lesions,” said Dr. Hadas Reuveni, Vice President Research and Development at Purple Biotech. “Most clinical literature on cancer therapy is not focused on evasion-related outcomes or prevention of metastasis, but rather predominantly relates to objectives such as disease progression and tumor shrinkage. The present research brings an important new focus to the process of metastasis and emphasizes the need to better understand and address it to improve treatment outcomes.”

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