Kancera reports promising preclinical results from studies of its Fractalkine axis blocking drug candidates in B-cell lymphoma

2022-10-20

Kancera AB (publ) reports new preclinical results supporting the potential for the company’s Fractalkine axis blocking candidate drugs to increase the efficacy of standard-of-care drug treatment of B-cell lymphomas, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Kancera is hereby reporting promising results showing that its Fractalkine axis blocking candidate drugs KAND567 and KAND145;

  • increase cell death of CLL cells taken from patients with progressive disease by blocking their nursing cells
  • leave non-tumor promoting healthy monocytes and B-cells functionally active

Our new research results strengthen the hypothesis that Kancera’s drug candidates neutralize cancer associated monocytes and macrophages in B-cell lymphoma,s such as CLL. We believe that our Fractalkine axis inhibitors have potential to restore sensitivity to standard-of-care treatment in B-cell lymphoma in a similar manner to our treatment concept in ovarian cancer, where the aim is to restore sensitivity to platinum chemotherapy”, says Thomas Olin, CEO of Kancera.

Kancera has previously announced the decision to initiate clinical trials with KAND567 in treatment resistant ovarian cancer. The goal is to restore sensitivity for platinum-chemotherapy through KAND567’s novel mechanism of action, which includes the ability to block cancer associated monotcytes and macrophages.

Transformed monocytes, also called “nursing cells”, are known to contribute to treatment resistance in B-cell lymphomas, such as CLL, by feeding growth stimulators and nutrients to leukemic B-cells. No existing treatment has been successful in blocking this stimulation. Independent researchers have shown that the Fractalkine system regulates the interaction between monocytes and leukemic B-cells. To study this further, Kancera has conducted research in collaboration with Professors Håkan Mellstedt and Anders Österborg at Karolinska Institutet to determine how Kanceras Fraktalkine axis blocking candidate drugs may neutralize nursing cells and thereby render leukemic B-cells sensitive to standard of care drug treatment.

Kancera will now engage with key opinion leaders in the field to review these promising study results and determine a possible line of treatment positioning of its Fractalkine axis blockers in B-cell lymphoma. In addition, these results will add value to development and partnering activities in other prioritized indications.

About Kancera AB (publ)
Kancera AB is developing a new class of drugs in the areas of inflammation and cancer, with a main focus on developing drug candidates based on the so called Dractalkine system. Fractalkine is a natural master regulator that controls immune cells and cancer cells with precision. Kancera is studying its most advanced drug candidate in an ongoing fully financed phase IIa study in inflammation in connection with myocardial infarction. Patient enrollment is expected to be completed before end of 2022. Kancera is also conducting development of its drug candidate KAND145, primarily aimed for oncology indications. Fully financed phase I-studies are planned to start in H1 2023. The stock is traded on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market.

For further information:
Thomas Olin
Chief Executive Officer, Kancera AB
Tel: +46-70-520 40 01

Welcome to visit Kancera’s web page: https://www.kancera.com/en

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