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On fundamental mechanisms of action,
P28R is active
in a number of human cancers.

donePotent immunomodulation

CanImGuide has developed the proprietary drug P28R,
a peptide with two modes of action.

First, this molecule inhibits the activity of an immunosuppressor produced in malignant tumours, and second, it has a direct immunostimulatory activity.
TECHNOLOGY

Focus: IMMUNO-STIMULATORY strategies

CanImGuide is developing a therapeutic platform based around an extraordinary biologic concept and an entirely new mechanism of action for immunomodulation.
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CHALLENGE

The immune system is of key importance for the body’s defense against cancer and the ability to attack and kill cancer cells. Based on the significant advances in immune-oncology with the development of so-called “checkpoint inhibitors” it is now possible to cure a minor proportion of the tumors that previously were untreatable including some patients suffering from melanoma and lung cancer. However, despite these successes 70-80% of all cancer patients have tumors which do not respond to checkpoint inhibitors.
assessment

SOLUTION

CanImGuide have discovered that the inability to respond to checkpoint inhibitors likely is due to a suppression of the immune system by the cancer itself. CanImGuide did first patent this previously unknown, naturally existing, mechanism for immune-suppression and has as their next step developed a unique peptide drug that blocks this suppressor of the natural immune system, thereby reactivating the ability to attack and kill tumors in cancer patients.
landscape

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

CanImGuide plans to take P28R to proof of concept in cancer patients and will then partner their immune-oncology program with a Pharma partner with a presence in this particular area. Thus, the preparations of the next clinical trial will now be initiated in parallel with executing and completing the First-in-Man trial. Initial discussions with potential Pharma partners and tentative collaboration projects, such as combo studies will be part of the awareness.
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Our Work

We have discovered, and thoroughly demonstrated, that a previously unknown immunosuppressive peptide named P3028 is formed in malignant tumors through the breakdown of albumin. This intra-tumoral albumin peptide binds to the fundamental receptor
(an integrin with a key role in immune cell functioning) and is thereby blocking an important component in the natural immune defense that normally contributes to kill cancer cells

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Our proprietary drug, P28R

In tumours, the P28R molecule effectively unblocks the blocking effect of the immunosuppressor molecule P3028. CanImGuide has identified the P3028-structure and demonstrated that P3028 is present in all cancers studied so far; breast cancer, renal cell cancer and malignant melanoma.

The CanImGuide story

Founded in 2006
2008 Thinking Bigger
2011 Moving Faster
2013 The discovery of a new class of immune-regulatory substances
2015 Fundamental therapeutic breakthrough
2018 First in-human clinical trials
2019-2020 Preparing Phase I/II studies
Founded in 2006

CanImGuide Therapeutics AB (CanImGuide) was founded in 2006 in order to further develop new treatments for primarily cancer, based on research carried out by a team led by Professor Leif Håkansson at the University of Linköping, Sweden.

Their research clearly indicated the possibility to predict the therapeutic outcome of immunotherapy based on either intra-tumoural or systemic immune status and it was also shown that the systemic immune status could be used to develop prognostic tests of significant value for cancer patients.

2008 Thinking Bigger

In parallell, fundamental cancer related immunoregulatory mechanisms were investigated, which resulted in the detection of several new therapeutic targets in cancer as well as inflammatory diseases.

Based on these observations the potential role of suppressive peptide sequences in cancer immunosuppression was further explored and the potent, suppressive peptide P3028 was discovered. Peptide 3028 has a dual mechanism of action, binding to two receptors of fundamental importance for the function of immune cells with the potential to suppress several steps in initiation and up-regulation of an immune response.

In parallell, fundamental cancer related immunoregulatory mechanisms were investigated, which resulted in the detection of several new therapeutic targets in cancer as well as inflammatory diseases.

Based on these observations the potential role of suppressive peptide sequences in cancer immunosuppression was further explored and the potent, suppressive peptide P3028 was discovered. Peptide 3028 has a dual mechanism of action, binding to two receptors of fundamental importance for the function of immune cells with the potential to suppress several steps in initiation and up-regulation of an immune response.

2011 Moving Faster

Antibodies to the suppressive peptide 3028 were developed and these antibodies were, in a human ex vivo model, shown to efficiently overcome this type of immunosuppression. A low molecular weight substance directed against this structure comprises a lead drug candidate for treatment of immunosuppression in cancer patients. This therapeutic strategy will enhance immune mediated anti-cancer reactivity and enhance the efficacy of immunostimulatory treatment using interferons, interleukins and vaccination.

2013 The discovery of a new class of immune-regulatory substances

In 2013 CanImGuide developed the peptide P28R which targets the P3028-structure and inactivates it.

2015 Fundamental therapeutic breakthrough

In vivo studies performed in 2015 demonstrating that P28R executes its anti-cancer effects also following subcutaneous administration (into healthy tissues), achieving systemic treatment effects. This was a fundamental therapeutic breakthrough in the development of P28R.

Toxicological studies conducted without any significant side effects.

2018 First in-human clinical trials

Based on the results achieved to date, the company is next planning to initiate its first-in-human clinical trial in patients. This will be a limited size study in patients with head-and-neck cancer. The clinical trial protocol is under review by the Swedish Medical Products Agency and the Ethical Committee and is expected to be ready to be initiated during 2018.

2019-2020 Preparing Phase I/II studies

CanImguide will carry out several Non-Clinical development activities which aim to prepare for the clinical development programs and a Phase I/II study. These activities includes a Regulatory Toxicological study, experimental invivo tumour studies, three clinical trials in dog, and a clinical Phase 0 First-In-Human study. All these activities will provide indispensable guidance for the more advanced Phase I/II studies planned to start in 2020.

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