Lassen Therapeutics Presents Data Demonstrating Anti-IL18 Binding Protein Antibody Efficacy and Enhancement of Anti-Tumor Immunity at AACR Annual Meeting

• Anti-IL18BP antibodies inhibit tumor growth in a mouse syngeneic tumor model
• Inhibition of IL18BP/IL18 binding releases immune-stimulatory IL18 to mediate a proinflammatory response in cancer
• Anti-human IL-18BP is a promising novel approach for cancer immunotherapy

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lassen Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company developing breakthrough antibody therapeutics as potential treatments for immuno-fibrotic diseases and cancer, will present new preclinical data demonstrating activity of its anti-interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) antibody and efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023, being held in Orlando, Florida. The poster presentation is part of the Immunomodulatory Agents and Interventions session which takes place today, Monday April 17^th, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM ET.

IL-18BP is a soluble inhibitory decoy receptor that binds to interleukin-18 (IL-18) and serves as a checkpoint to modulate and inhibit the potent proinflammatory effects of IL-18 on both the innate and adaptive immune system. IL-18 has demonstrated efficacy in certain tumor models; IL-18 clinical trials have not, however, shown efficacy of this treatment due to increased expression of IL-18BP with consequent inhibition of activity.

Lassen’s anti-IL18BP antibodies demonstrated anti-tumor efficacy in a mouse syngeneic tumor model in combination with IL-18, anti-PD-1, and anti-PD-1 plus IL-18. The antibodies have been shown to induce potent stimulation of interferon gamma and other proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in vitro and in vivo.

“We have identified high affinity, high potency anti-IL-18BP antibodies capable of disrupting and inhibiting the formation of IL-18BP/IL-18 complexes to liberate IL-18,” said David King, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Lassen. “Our data suggest that inhibition of IL-18BP/IL-18 binding may prove efficacious in the treatment of cancers by increasing the immunostimulatory effects of IL-18 in tumors.”

About Lassen Therapeutics

Lassen Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech that develops breakthrough antibodies as potential treatments for immuno-fibrotic diseases and cancer. The company’s lead program is LASN01, a first- and best-in-class monoclonal antibody targeting IL-11 receptor (IL-11R), which is currently being studied in a Phase 1 clinical trial. IL-11 is a central mediator of the pathogenesis of inflammatory fibrosis and blocking its activity has therapeutic potential in a number of serious immuno-fibrotic diseases. The company is also developing a novel immuno-oncology therapeutic targeting interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), a checkpoint on IL-18 activity. Our antibodies inhibit the checkpoint activity of IL-18BP to allow IL-18 to stimulate multiple immune cell populations including enhancement of NK and T cell mediated immune responses to tumors.

For more information, please visit www.lassentherapeutics.com.