Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. has unveiled NPX-372, a novel T-cell engager for solid tumors. NPX-372 is a CD3 bispecific antibody with unique capabilities to redirect T cell-mediated cytotoxicity toward B7-H7-positive tumors such as colorectal carcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer.
HERV-H LTR-associating protein 2 (HHLA2) is known to play immunosuppressive roles by interacting with killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL3 (KIR3DL3). The expression of HHLA2 in cancer is associated with poor patient outcomes, making it a promising therapeutic target for immunotherapy. Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. has presented data on their monoclonal antibodies NPX-267 and NPX-887, which target KIR3DL3 and HHLA2, respectively.
Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. has received FDA clearance of its IND application for NPX-887, 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.
Nextpoint Therapeutics Inc. closed an $80 million series B round to move two novel immune checkpoint inhibitor programs into clinical development in the coming year. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm is planting a flag in an area of immune signaling that has been largely overlooked by drug developers until now.
Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL3 (KIR3DL3) is a member of the killer cell Ig-like (KIR) receptor family. When KIR3DL3 is expressed on T and natural killer (NK) cells in the tumor microenvironment, it suppresses immune responses following engagement with HHLA2, suggesting that the KIR3DL3-HHLA2 axis potentially represents a novel immune checkpoint pathway and that blockade of KIR3DL3 signaling could promote antitumor immunity.
