Antibody Enters Clinical Trial for Treatment of B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

IONTAS, a company specializing in the discovery and optimization of fully human antibodies, has been informed that International Biotechnology Center (IBC) Generium, a Russian biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products for the treatment of orphan diseases and cancer, has received approval from the Russian Health Authorities to initiate clinical trials with its CD3/CD19 bispecific antibody for the treatment of B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

This is the first IBC Generium drug candidate developed using IONTAS technology, which was approved for clinical trials. IBC Generium and IONTAS worked together to generate the anti-CD3 component of the bispecific molecule. If this trial is successful, it is thought that further clinical trials incorporating IONTAS antibodies could be driven forward by clients of IONTAS in the coming few years.

Dr John McCafferty, CEO and Founder of IONTAS, said: “We are very proud of our involvement in this project and delighted that IBC Generium has achieved this important landmark. We are hopeful for success in this initial trial and are excited by the prospect of our anti-CD3 antibody contributing more broadly to the armory of new and innovative cancer treatments.”