DGAP-News

MOLOGEN AG presents EnanDIM: A new generation of immunomodulators

DGAP-News: MOLOGEN AG / Key word(s): Product Launch/Conference
MOLOGEN AG presents EnanDIM: A new generation of immunomodulators

14.10.2014 / 08:00

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MOLOGEN AG presents EnanDIM: A new generation of immunomodulators

- New generation of linear TLR-9 agonists

- EnanDIM induces broad immune activation

- Potential application in the fields of cancer and anti-infective
therapies

- Preclinical data presented for the first time on conference in San
Diego

Berlin, October 14, 2014 - MOLOGEN has presented preclinical data on its
EnanDIM technology at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide
Therapeutics Society (OTS) in San Diego, United States. EnanDIM represents
a new generation of the company's immunoactivating TLR-9 agonists that is
expected to trigger a broad immune activation while being well tolerated.
Potential applications include the fields of anti-tumor and anti-infective
therapies.

DNA-based TLR-9 agonists are potent activators of the innate immune system
and of a variety of immune cell populations. So far, two different types of
TLR-9 agonists have been established. The first consists of linear,
single-stranded DNA molecules. Most of these linear TLR-9 agonists are
chemically modified to protect them against degradation, which is known to
produce off-target effects and toxicity. MOLOGEN's lead product, the cancer
immunotherapy MGN1703, represents the second type of TLR-9 agonist, a
covalently-closed, dumbbell-shaped DNA molecule. As it consists entirely of
natural DNA components, it is safe and well tolerated.

EnanDIM(R) (Enantiomeric, DNA-based, ImmunoModulator), the new class of
linear TLR-9 agonists, combines the immunoactivatory properties of
molecules containing only natural DNA components with the advantages of
linear molecules. Despite its linear structure, no chemical modifications
are needed as the specific linear structure of EnanDIM protects the
molecules against degradation. This protection is achieved by incorporation
of mirror-imaged components, which are chemically identical to the
naturally occurring DNA components but that are not recognized by
DNA-degrading enzymes. Consequently, a favorable safety and tolerability
profile is expected to be shown in the planned subsequent preclinical and
clinical development.

The broad immune activation induced by EnanDIM in preclinical models has
been presented at OTS in an oral presentation. Therefore, the mode of