HOUSTON - Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: COYA), a clinical-stage biotech company, has broadened its intellectual property portfolio by securing a license from UNeMed Corporation, the technology transfer arm of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The agreement grants Coya rights to a novel combination therapy involving its proprietary low dose interleukin-2 (ld IL-2) and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), with potential implications for treating inflammatory disorders.
The licensed combination has demonstrated a synergistic effect in preclinical studies, significantly increasing regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers and function—a key focus of Coya's research. Tregs are vital for maintaining immune balance and preventing excessive inflammation, which is implicated in various diseases. The addition of GM-CSF to Coya's ld IL-2 reportedly resulted in a 4-6 fold increase in Tregs in animal models, suggesting a robust enhancement of the immune system's regulatory capabilities.
This development comes on the heels of Coya's ongoing work with COYA 302, their lead therapeutic candidate combining COYA 301 with CTLA-4 Ig, which is being developed for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Preliminary clinical results have shown that COYA 302 is well-tolerated, with patients exhibiting stable disease progression and improved Treg function during a 48-week treatment period.
The new licensing agreement not only diversifies Coya's therapeutic pipeline but also opens avenues for potential partnerships and treatment options for various neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions. UNeMed will receive milestone payments and royalties on net sales as part of the deal.
Dr. Arun Swaminathan, Chief Business Officer at Coya, expressed optimism about the potential of COYA 301 as a "backbone drug" in combination therapies designed to modulate the immune system. UNeMed's President and CEO, Michael Dixon, Ph.D., echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential benefit to patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
COYA 301 and the newly licensed combination therapy are investigational products and have not yet received approval from the FDA or any other regulatory body. The company's commitment to enhancing Treg function underlines its broader strategy to address systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, which are common threads in a range of debilitating diseases. This press release statement serves as the basis for these developments.
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