Medikine to Highlight Preclinical Data on its Lead Program MDK-703, an IL-7 Mimetic, at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

MENLO PARK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medikine, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of cytokine mimetics for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases, announced today that it will deliver a poster presentation at the AACR Annual Meeting 2022. The poster highlights preclinical data on Medikine’s lead program MDK-703, an Fc-peptide fusion protein incorporating an IL-7 PEPTIKINE discovered using Medikine’s innovative platform technology. PEPTIKINES are cytokine receptor agonists that are smaller in molecular size than, and structurally unrelated to, the natural cytokine proteins they emulate.

The poster presents data on the effects of MDK-703 on CD8, CD4, and memory T-cell populations in human cells in vitro and when administered to non-human primates and CD34-engrafted humanized mice. In addition to increasing the number of CD8 and CD4 T-cells, MDK-703 increased memory T-cells, particularly T memory stem cells (Tscm), a subset of memory lymphocytes endowed with the stem cell-like ability to self-renew, and the multi-potent capacity to reconstitute the entire spectrum of memory and effector subsets.

Dr. Joseph Leveque, President and Chief Medical Officer of Medikine, commented, “I believe that MDK-703 has best-in-class potential as a therapy with the ability to differentiate, maintain, and increase survival of T-cells with critical anti-tumor properties. An additional important feature of MDK-703 is that, as a consequence of its novel structure, it would not be expected to generate neutralizing antibodies to native IL-7, an issue observed with other IL-7-based therapies in clinical development.”

Medikine expects MDK-703 to enter first-in-human clinical trials in mid-2022.

Poster Presentation Details

• Title: In vitro and in vivo properties of MDK703: An Fc-peptide fusion IL-7Rαγc agonist unrelated in structure to IL-7
• Abstract #: 2066
• Presenter: Angie Park, PhD, Medikine
• Session Title: Immunomodulatory Agents and Interventions 1
• Date/Time: Monday, April 11, 2022, from 1:00-5:00 p.m. ET

The poster will be available on the Medikine website at www.Medikine.com following the presentation.

ABOUT MEDIKINE

Medikine is a biopharmaceutical company with a mission to transform the discovery of oncology, autoimmune disorder, and infectious disease therapeutics by employing a disruptive and versatile drug discovery platform that generates modular “PEPTIKINES” that are smaller in molecular size than, and structurally unrelated to, the natural cytokine proteins they emulate. These PEPTIKINES are readily amenable to further enhancement for desired pharmacokinetics or added pharmacologic features.

Medikine’s lead product candidate MDK-703, which is planned to enter clinical trials in 2022, is an IL-7 PEPTIKINE fused to an immunoglobulin Fc-domain, which emulates the beneficial properties of IL-7, a cytokine critical to maintaining T cell response. An important feature is its avoidance of the generation of neutralizing antibodies to native IL-7. Medikine has also identified novel PEPTIKINES that activate the IL-2/15βγc receptor and is exploring their use in bispecifics with differentiated profiles, including an IL-7R and IL-2/15Rβγc dual agonist and a cell-targeted IL-2/15Rβγc attenuated agonist.

Medikine is led by an accomplished team of industry veterans with decades of experience in pioneering drug discovery technology and developing immuno-oncology therapeutics. The company intends to both advance the clinical development of its pipeline assets as well as seek partnerships to expand clinical-stage opportunities. For more information, please visit www.medikine.com.

Contacts

Dan Boyle

The Grace Communication Group

[email protected]
(818) 209-1692