SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - 23andMe Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ME), a prominent player in human genetics and biopharmaceuticals, announced today that the first participant has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial for a novel cancer treatment, 23ME-01473 (˜1473).
The trial is focused on advanced solid tumors and marks the third drug target from the company's proprietary research platform to enter clinical testing in under four years.
The investigational antibody ˜1473 is designed to block the immunosuppressive effects of soluble ULBP6, a molecule that cancer cells use to evade the immune system. By inhibiting ULBP6, the treatment aims to restore the natural anti-tumor activity of NK and T cells. Additionally, ˜1473 is engineered to enhance the ability of NK cells to kill cancer cells expressing ULBP6.
The target, ULBP6, was identified using 23andMe's immuno-oncology genetic signature method, which utilizes the company's vast database of genetic and phenotypic information to find genetic variants that could influence immune function and cancer risk.
Jennifer Low, Head of Therapeutics Development at 23andMe, expressed optimism about the trial, stating, "Entering the clinic with this exciting new dual-mechanism NK-cell activator reinforces the ability of the 23andMe Therapeutics team, and the potential of our research platform, to discover and develop new therapies informed by human genetics."
The Phase 1 study is an open-label trial conducted across multiple centers, aiming to establish the safety and tolerability of ˜1473 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid malignancies that have not responded to standard treatments. The trial will also assess the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ˜1473 to determine the most effective dose and schedule for subsequent studies.
This trial represents a step forward in the field of personalized medicine and genetic-based drug development. However, the company cautions that the forward-looking statements in the press release are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement from 23andMe.
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