Vincerx Pharma, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company aspiring to address the unmet medical needs of patients with cancer through paradigm-shifting therapeutics, today announced a poster presentation of preclinical data of Vincerx’s proprietary payload and linker technology and VIP943, the Company’s internalizing ADC targeting CD123, at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting 2022.
VIP943 is a novel ADC, which binds to the IL3-receptor alpha chain . VIP943 combines the unique payload class of kinesin spindle protein inhibitors with a proprietary legumain-cleavable linker. Vincerx’s CellTrapper™ modification of the KSPi prevents diffusion out of the cell, allowing intracellular accumulation. The nonpermeability of the payload prevents off-target toxicities, leading to favorable efficacy and safety profiles.
“I am truly excited about the preclinical results for VIP943 and our proprietary payload and linker technology presented at ASH,” said Ahmed Hamdy, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vincerx. “For the first time, we showed a significant improvement in safety over an approved ADC, demonstrating in non-human primates the benefit of our KSPi payload and CellTrapper technology specifically designed to address some of the well-known challenges of ADCs on the market. The in vivo AML mouse model results also showed improved efficacy and survival for VIP943 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. This triple combination resulted in significant tumor regression as demonstrated by five complete responses and significantly prolonged survival time without increased toxicity,” added Dr. Hamdy.
“This ADC is innovative and exciting. The target is well understood and the novel payload that targets myeloid cells suggests this could be a valuable agent for patients with AML.”
Dr. Anthony Tolcher, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, Founder and Director of Clinical Research at NEXT Oncology
“Current standard of care for AML patients is combination therapy with venetoclax and azacitidine, yet most patients eventually relapse with progressive disease. The efficacy and safety data for VIP943 we see in our studies suggest it may be a promising option for treating AML as a monotherapy in relapse/refractory elderly, unfit and high-risk patients as well as in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine. Our results also provide compelling evidence that VIP943 represents a substantial advancement and potential paradigm-shift in ADC technology. We look forward to continuing to advance the IND-enabling studies for VIP943 and expect to file our IND in mid-2023,” concluded Dr. Hamdy.
ABOUT VINCERX PHARMA, INC.
Vincerx Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on leveraging its extensive development and oncology expertise to advance new therapies intended to address unmet medical needs for the treatment of cancer. Vincerx has assembled a management team of biopharmaceutical experts with extensive experience in building and operating organizations that develop and deliver innovative medicines to patients. Vincerx’s current pipeline derives from an exclusive license agreement with Bayer and includes a clinical-stage and follow-on small molecule drug program and a preclinical stage modular bioconjugation platform, which includes next-generation antibody-drug conjugates and innovative small molecule drug conjugates.