ZymoGenetics presents preclinical Interleukin 21/antibody cancer therapy data
ZymoGenetics has presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on Interleukin 21 (IL-21)'s ability to enhance rituximab-mediated killing of B-lymphoma cell lines.
ZymoGenetics has presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on Interleukin 21 (IL-21)'s ability to enhance rituximab-mediated killing of B-lymphoma cell lines.
At 90 days of follow-up, a combination of IL-21 plus low-dose rituximab enabled survival of 70% of mice injected with an aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell line compared with only 10% of mice that were treated with rituximab alone, and none of the mice that were treated with IL-21 alone. These data suggest that IL-21 along with low-dose rituximab can improve a natural killer cell's ability to kill antibody-coated target cells. Although current antibody treatments of cancer are well tolerated by cancer patients, long-term remissions remain elusive. The ability of IL-21 to improve antibody-based tumor cell killing in preclinical models offers the hope that more patients might be brought into remission and that such remissions might last longer if this therapy could be applied in the clinical setting.
'This is an exciting new application of IL-21 that could significantly expand the potential market for this cytokine,' commented Dr Bruce Carter, president and ceo of ZymoGenetics. 'Because of its impact on natural killer cells, IL-21 could augment many therapeutic antibodies.'
About Interleukin 21 (IL-21)
IL-21 is a novel member of the four helical bundle cytokine family, a protein family which includes several proteins already approved for therapeutic use or in clinical trials. IL-21 was identified using the company's genomics-based discovery platform. IL-21 has potent biological activity in regulating key classes of immune cells, including cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. These cell types play key roles in eliminating malignant and infected cells from the body. Based upon the ability of IL-21 to inhibit tumor growth in a number of animal models and its mechanism of action involving regulation of immune cells, metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma were selected as the initial indications. There are an estimated 80,000 new cases of melanoma per year worldwide and 100,000 new cases of renal cell carcinoma per year worldwide. Currently, metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma are essentially incurable cancers with no established standard of care. Potential follow-on indications for IL-21 development include other solid tumors, such as lung, colon or breast cancer. ZymoGenetics has retained the commercialisation rights for IL-21 in North America and has licensed the commercialisation rights outside of North America to Novo Nordisk A/S.
About Interleukin 21 (IL-21)
IL-21 is a novel member of the four helical bundle cytokine family, a protein family which includes several proteins already approved for therapeutic use or in clinical trials. IL-21 was identified using the company's genomics-based discovery platform. IL-21 has potent biological activity in regulating key classes of immune cells, including cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. These cell types play key roles in eliminating malignant and infected cells from the body. Based upon the ability of IL-21 to inhibit tumor growth in a number of animal models and its mechanism of action involving regulation of immune cells, metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma were selected as the initial indications. There are an estimated 80,000 new cases of melanoma per year worldwide and 100,000 new cases of renal cell carcinoma per year worldwide. Currently, metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma are essentially incurable cancers with no established standard of care. Potential follow-on indications for IL-21 development include other solid tumors, such as lung, colon or breast cancer. ZymoGenetics has retained the commercialisation rights for IL-21 in North America and has licensed the commercialisation rights outside of North America to Novo Nordisk A/S.