Jan. 16th 2020
SynerK, Inc. announced its first development program, SNK-001 is entering into IND-enabling studies. SNK-001 is a first-in-class TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) inhibitor.
Current approved immunotherapies focus on targeting PD-1/PD-L1 pathway that activates T cells. In solid tumors, however, only up to 30% patients are benefiting from PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. TIGIT is expressed on both NK and T cells. Targeting TIGIT may activate both NK and T cells therefore increase response rate.
In our preclinical tumor models, TIGIT inhibition dose-dependently inhibited established tumor growth and the tumor inhibition is dependent on NK and CD8+ T cells. TIGIT inhibition in combination with PD-1 therapy eliminated established tumor and induced long-term immune memory.
SynerK is planning to file IND in 2nd half of 2020 and to initiate clinical trial in treatment naïve cancer patients in 2021.