Idera Engages Abbott To Develop Diagnostics For IMO-8400 Treatment
By Cyndi Root
Idera Pharmaceuticals announced in a press release that it has engaged Abbott to develop an in vitro diagnostic test. Idera will utilize the test in its clinical program to use IMO-8400 to treat genetically defined forms of B-cell lymphoma.
Lou Brenner, M.D., SVP and CMO of Idera Pharmaceuticals said, “Research by Idera and by independent investigators has established TLR antagonism as a potentially promising and novel therapeutic approach for patients with B-cell malignancies harboring the MYD88 L265P mutation. This companion diagnostic will be an important tool for the clinical community in evaluating whether their patients are potential candidates for IMO-8400 therapy.”
Idera and Abbot Agreement
The agreement calls for Abbott to develop the test. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, the diagnostic will examine tumor biopsy samples for the MYD88 L265P oncogenic mutation. With a diagnostic test high in specificity and sensitivity, investigators can identify approximately 90 percent of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia and 30 percent of ABC sub-type of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The mutation active in these conditions is a prime target for Idera’s IMO-8400 drug candidate.
IMO-8400
IMO-8400 is synthetic oligonucleotide-based antagonist of TLRs 7, 8, and 9. It is an investigational agent in development for treatment of B-cell lymphoma with the presence of the oncogenic mutation MYD88 L265P. IMO-8400 is Idera’s leading candidate in its proprietary drug discovery platform of toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonist drug candidates.
Clinical Results
Idera recently presented data on IMO-8400 at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. The company showed that IMO-8400 has the ability to inhibit B-cell lymphoma cells. A Phase I trial of 42 patients showed that patients tolerated the drug in escalating doses. The drug shows promise in other conditions such as arthritis, lupus, and psoriasis. A Phase II trial showed efficacy in psoriasis patients.
Genetically Defined Forms of B-cell Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a blood cancer wherein white blood cells grow abnormally. B-lymphocytes are active in 90 percent of lymphomas while T-lymphocytes are involved in 10 percent of cases. Drug development for B-cells is targeting genomic aberrations. The diagnostic test developed by Abbot will help Idera identify tumors with B-cell activation so Idera can treat them with IMO-8400. Idera is enrolling patients and submitting applications to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for further trials.