Exicure Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1b/2 Immuno-oncology Trial

SKOKIE, Ill.--()--Exicure, Inc. (OTCQB: XCUR), a pioneer in gene regulatory and immunotherapeutic drugs utilizing spherical nucleic acid (SNA™) constructs, announced today that it has dosed the first patient in its multicenter, open-label, Phase 1b/2 study of AST-008 combined with pembrolizumab. Enrollment in the trial is open to patients with superficial injectable tumors in advanced or metastatic solid tumor conditions including Merkel cell carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. clinicaltrials.gov NCT03684785

“We believe that combining our immune system agonist drug with checkpoint inhibitors is an important strategy for leveraging the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. We are excited to bring this approach into cancers like Merkel cell carcinoma, where patients have limited success using currently available treatments,” said Exicure CEO Dr. David Giljohann. “It is also an important milestone for Exicure in the development of our platform technology, which allows us to digitally design drug candidates and potentially bring them into clinic faster.”

The primary objective of the Phase 1b dose escalation stage is to assess the safety and tolerability of Exicure’s AST-008 drug alone and in combination with pembrolizumab, and to determine a dose for the Phase 2 stage of the study. Patients in the dose escalation stage may have previously been exposed to antibody checkpoint inhibitors, but not as a requirement for inclusion in the trial. In the Phase 2 portion of the study, Exicure will further evaluate AST-008 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients who have previously received but not responded to anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 antibody therapy.

About Exicure’s AST-008 Drug

AST-008 is a toll-like receptor nine (TLR9) agonist oligonucleotide in a proprietary SNA format with immune-stimulatory properties. SNAs are dense, radial arrangements of nucleic acids (DNA) that have high cellular uptake and an enhanced presentation of the DNA for TLR9 agonism. AST-008 is designed to enter into and activate immune cells to elicit an immune response to treat solid tumors in combination with other agents such as checkpoint inhibitors. We observed that AST-008 showed potent antitumor activity as a monotherapy and synergized with anti-PD-1 antibodies in multiple preclinical tumor models. In a successful Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers, AST-008 activated key immune cells and cytokines predictive for an anti-tumor effect in patients.

About Exicure, Inc.

Exicure, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a new class of immunomodulatory and gene regulating drugs against validated targets. Exicure's proprietary SNA architecture is designed to unlock the potential of therapeutic oligonucleotides in a wide range of cells and tissues. Exicure's lead programs address inflammatory diseases, genetic disorders and oncology. Exicure is based outside of Chicago, IL. www.exicuretx.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning the Company, the Company’s technology, potential therapies and other matters. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “look forward,” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: unexpected costs, charges or expenses that reduce cash runway; that Exicure’s pre-clinical programs do not advance into the clinic or result in approved products on a timely or cost effective basis or at all; the cost, timing and results of clinical trials; that many drug candidates that have completed Phase 1 trials do not become approved drugs on a timely or cost effective basis or at all; the ability to enroll patients in clinical trials; possible safety and efficacy concerns; regulatory developments; and the ability of Exicure to protect its intellectual property rights. Exicure’s pipeline programs are in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development, and the process by which such pre-clinical or clinical therapeutic candidates could potentially lead to an approved therapeutic is long and subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Risks facing the Company and its programs are set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Media Contacts:
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Karen Sharma
781-235-3060
ksharma@macbiocom.com

Release Summary

Exicure Announces Dosing of First Patient in Phase 1b/2 Immuno-oncology Trial

Contacts

Media Contacts:
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Karen Sharma
781-235-3060
ksharma@macbiocom.com