BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Cancer

December 13, 2017 1:11 AM UTC

Cell culture and mouse studies suggest SIRPA inhibitors could help treat Burkitt's lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In a CD20-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell line co-cultured with human macrophages, an anti-SIRPA mAb (KWAR23) plus the anti-CD20 antibodies Rituxan rituximab or Gazyva obinutuzumab increased macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of the lymphoma cells compared with any of the agents alone. In a mouse model of Burkitt's lymphoma, KWAR23 plus Rituxan decreased tumor growth compared with either agent alone. In two human RCC cell lines co-cultured with human macrophages, a bispecific antibody against SIRPA and CD70 increased phagocytosis of the cancer cells compared with the anti-CD70 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) vorsetuzumab mafodotin, KWAR23 or vorsetuzumab plus KWAR23. Next steps by Forty Seven Inc. could include testing KWAR23 or the anti-SIRPA/CD70 bispecific antibody in additional models of Burkitt's lymphoma and RCC.

Biogen Inc., Roche and its Genentech Inc. unit market Rituxan, a chimeric mAb against CD20, for lymphoma, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory indications...