Positive Interim ES104 Phase 2 Data Reported in Combination with Paclitaxel in Biliary Tract Cancers

SHANGHAI & SUZHOU, China & GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elpiscience Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Elpiscience”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation immunotherapies to benefit cancer patients worldwide, today announced partner Compass Therapeutics reported positive interim ES104 (also known as CTX-009) Phase 2 data in combination with paclitaxel in patients with biliary tract cancers (BTC). ES104 is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks Delta-like ligand 4/Notch (DLL4) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) signaling pathways, which are critical to angiogenesis and tumor vascularization.

In the study, ES104 demonstrated:

• 42% overall response rate (ORR) based on 10 patients with Partial Responses (PRs), including 9 PRs confirmed by RECIST 1.1 and 1 PR pending confirmation
• Anti-tumor activity in previously treated patients with a clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 92% based on 22 patients with a PR or stable disease (SD) out of 24 enrolled patients
• Well-tolerated and preliminary safety profile consistent with prior studies

The Phase 2 study in patients with BTC is currently being conducted at four leading medical centers in Korea and Compass Therapeutics plans to open additional sites in the United States. In China, Elpiscience is currently enrolling patients in a ES104 Phase 1/2 study for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). ES104 is currently the only clinical-stage bispecific antibody targeting VEGF and DLL4 in China.

“We are encouraged by the impressive interim Phase 2 data in BTC patients from our partner,” said Steve Chin, Chief Medical Officer of Elpiscience. “ES104 in combination with paclitaxel showed a high ORR including responses in all four BTC subtypes and good overall tolerability consistent with prior studies. We believe in the clinical strategy to simultaneously target VEGF and DLL4 and look forward to our study findings in advanced CRC patients.”

For more information on the Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic CRC, refer to Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT05167448.

About ES104

ES104 is a bispecific antibody that simultaneously blocks Delta-like ligand 4/Notch (DLL4) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) signaling pathways, which are critical to angiogenesis and tumor vascularization. Pre-clinical and early clinical data of ES104 show that blocking both pathways provides robust anti-tumor activity across several solid tumors, including colorectal, gastric, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic, and non-small cell lung cancer. Partial responses to ES104 as monotherapy have been observed in heavily pre-treated cancer patients, who were resistant to currently approved anti-VEGF therapies. ES104 has completed a Phase 1 monotherapy dose-escalation and expansion study (NCT03292783). Phase 1b and Phase 2 clinical studies (NCT04492033) in combination with chemotherapy are ongoing. Elpiscience licensed ES104 greater China rights from Compass Therapeutics in January 2021 and is conducting Phase 1/2 study in China for treatment in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer.

About Elpiscience

Elpiscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation immunotherapy to benefit cancer patients worldwide. The Company has a robust pipeline of globally innovative cancer immunotherapies covering wide range of oncology targets and multiple proprietary technologies to enable discovery including its Bispecific Macrophage Engager (BiME®) antibody platform for solid tumors. Founded and managed by a team of biotechnology industry leaders and scientists, Elpiscience is supported by a world-class Scientific Advisory Board and high-quality investors including, Lilly Asia Ventures, GL Ventures, Hyfinity Investments, Greater Bay Area Homeland Development Fund, CDH, DYEE Capital and Cormorant Asset Management. Elpiscience endeavors to advance at least one innovative program into the clinic each year.

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