Cantargia announces pre-clinical results showing positive effects of CAN04 combined with approved cancer therapies

Cantargia AB today announces pre-clinical results from a study combining the antibody CAN04 (nidanilimab) and chemotherapy. In in vivo based models of cancer, CAN04 was safely combined with the tested chemotherapies. The strongest result was obtained by combining CAN04 with cisplatin, demonstrating both a significantly improved therapeutic effect as well as a clear CAN04-related reduction of cisplatin side effects.

Cantargia develops antibody-based pharmaceuticals against the interleukin 1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP). The lead drug candidate CAN04 is in a phase I/IIa clinical trial (CANFOUR), where monotherapy dose escalation is initially investigated followed by monotherapy as well as combination therapy cohorts in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer. Cisplatin is part of standard therapy regimes in lung cancer and other cancers such as head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer and bladder cancer. In tumor bearing mice, combining CAN04 and cisplatin led to antitumor effects stronger than those observed using each individual agent. In addition, CAN04 counteracted cisplatin induced toxicity in these mice. Further investigations are ongoing and the results are planned to be presented at a scientific conference during 2018. Following results from independent groups showing that interleukin-1 blockade counteracts gemcitabine resistance during cancer treatment, studies combining CAN04 and gemcitabine support the combination. Gemcitabine is approved for treatment of NSCLC, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer.

“These data are very promising for the CAN04 development. It shows that CAN04 can be combined safely with chemotherapy to improve antitumor effects. Of additional importance is the finding that CAN04 reduced cisplatin toxicity in an in vivo cancer model”, Göran Forsberg, Cantargia’s CEO says.

For further information, please contact

Göran Forsberg, CEO
Telephone: +46 (0)46-275 62 60
E-mail: goran.forsberg@cantargia.com

This is information that Cantargia AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 15:00 CET on 26 June 2018.

About Cantargia

Cantargia AB (publ), reg.no. 556791-6019, is a biotech company that is developing antibody-based treatments for life-threatening diseases. The original discovery by the research team behind Cantargia was the overexpression of a specific target molecule, interleukin 1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) in leukemic stem cells. Subsequent research has also identified IL1RAP in many other forms of cancer. The company’s main project, the CAN04 (nidanilimab) antibody targeted against IL1RAP, is being studied in the CANFOUR clinical phase I/IIa study, where the primary focus is on non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer. CAN04 (nidanilimab) has two modes of action: it blocks the function of IL1RAP and stimulates the immune system to destroy tumour cells. Cantargia’s second project, currently in the research phase, is aimed at developing an IL1RAP-binding antibody that is optimised for treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Cantargia is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm First North (ticker: CANTA). Sedermera Fondkommission is the company’s Certified Adviser. More information about Cantargia is available at http://www.cantargia.com.

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