Neoleukin Therapeutics Announces Multiple Presentations at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II

-Preclinical Data on Lead Immunotherapy Candidate NL-201 Including Immunogencity Results in Non-Human Primates-

-Novel Conditional Activation Platform Enabled by De Novo Protein Technology-

-Preclinical Results Demonstrate Ability of NL-201 to Expand and Enhance CAR‑T Cell Activity-

SEATTLE, May 15, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc., “Neoleukin” (NASDAQ:NLTX), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing sophisticated computational methods to design de novo protein therapeutics, today announced three presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II taking place June 22-24, 2020. The presentations include preclinical data on lead candidate NL-201, as well as other applications of Neoleukin’s de novo protein design platform.

Abstract #4518, a poster presentation, will feature preclinical data on NL-201, an IL-2 and IL-15 agonist designed to eliminate alpha binding for therapeutic use in cancer. Details of the structure and characteristics of the extended half-life molecule, in vivo activity in multiple tumor models, immunogenicity data in non human primates, and pharmacodynamic effects will be presented.

Abstract #1075, a minisymposium presentation, will highlight a conditional activation approach for de novo proteins, demonstrating the ability to split Neo-2/15 into two inactive pieces and to reconstitute binding and signaling when co-targeted to the tumor cell surface in preclinical models. This represents a novel method for conditional activation, made possible by Neoleukin’s computational technology and engineered stability of de novo proteins. This presentation is in collaboration with the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington.

Abstract #2222, a poster presentation, will describe engineered variants of Neo-2/15 that demonstrate the ability to induce robust CAR-T cell expansion as well as enhance CAR-T antitumor activity in preclinical models. This poster is presented in collaboration with investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

“These AACR presentations highlight the exciting potential of our de novo protein design technology. This includes significant information on our lead candidate, NL-201, which we are advancing toward clinical testing,” said Jonathan Drachman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Neoleukin. “Our presentations also describe a novel approach to conditional activation, which has the potential to widen the therapeutic index of potent immunotherapies. We believe that the split molecule approach is particularly well-suited to de novo protein design due to enhanced stability.”