Progressing clinical programs NPX267 and NPX887 in parallel to interrogate HHLA2/B7-H7 axis from multiple angles for optimizing targeted immuno-oncology therapeutic approaches

NextPoint Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new class of precision oncology therapeutics targeting the novel HHLA2 pathway, announced today that the first patient has been dosed with NPX887 in a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors expressing HHLA2/B7-H7, a tumor antigen strongly upregulated in many human tumors independently of PD-L1.

The study is a Phase 1a/1b open-label, multi-center trial (NCT06240728) consisting of a dose escalation and an expansion stage to evaluate the tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and biomarker-based selection of NPX887 in patients with solid tumor malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and other solid tumor types known to express HHLA2/B7-H7.

“The launch of NPX887, our second clinical program targeting the HHLA2/B7-H7 axis, marks an important step in broadening our therapeutic targeting of this novel pathway to reactivate the immune system to fight cancer,” commented Leena Gandhi, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of NextPoint Therapeutics. “Together with NPX267, our first clinical program targeting the KIR3DL3 receptor for HHLA2, we are well-positioned to interrogate how best to exploit this pathway to effectively treat patients whose tumors express HHLA2 as an independent checkpoint of tumor-immune response from PD-L1. Our goal for both clinical programs is to leverage HHLA2 as a biomarker to enable precision selection of patients most likely to benefit. Both NPX267 and NPX887 have the potential for monotherapy benefit in selected patient populations.”

About NPX887

NPX887 is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting HHLA2 (B7-H7), a novel immune checkpoint and tumor target antigen highly expressed in many cancers independently of PD-L1. NPX887 is designed to prevent immune escape in solid tumors by blocking KIR3DL3-mediated immunosuppression which results from binding to HHLA2. Treatment with NPX887 is believed to promote both T and NK cell antitumor activity within the tumor microenvironment. To learn more, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT06240728).

About NextPoint Therapeutics

NextPoint is advancing the field of immuno-oncology through its leading scientific work on the novel HHLA2 axis, also known as B7-H7. Our innovative approach integrates foundational science with a defined clinical biomarker strategy to deliver a new class of monotherapies for patients who do not benefit from PD-1/L1 inhibitors and other therapies. NextPoint is simultaneously advancing therapeutic approaches utilizing the unique upregulation of HHLA2 in cancer as an anchor for tumor-targeting therapeutic modalities. Our team of proven drug developers is working closely with our renowned scientific founders to launch a new world of precision immuno-oncology and beyond. To learn more, visit nextpointtx.com.

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