Kitov Pharma Ltd. announced a milestone in the acquisition of FameWave Ltd., following signature of a clinical collaboration agreement between FameWave and Bristol Myers Squibb for their planned phase I/II clinical trials to evaluate the combination of CM-24, a monoclonal antibody targeting the novel immune checkpoint carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 with nivolumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Preclinical studies have shown a strong synergetic anti-cancer effect using CM-24 in combination with a PD-1 antibody. Based on Kitov’s review of the initial phase I dose ranging study of CM24 as a single agent, performed by Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Kitov plans to explore higher doses in order to reach receptor saturation,.
Kitov is acquiring FameWave, pending completion of certain additional closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of Kitov of the acquisition.
CM-24 is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1, an immune checkpoint protein belonging to the Human CEA protein family. Evidence has shown that CEACAM1 is expressed on tumor lymphocytes and is up-regulated in several cancer types.
Preclinical studies have shown evidence that CM-24 enhances the cytotoxic activity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes against various CEACAM1-positive tumor cell lines. CM-24 is being developed for multiple oncological indications according to the expression pattern of its target protein.
As part of the recently announced agreement for the acquisition of FameWave by Kitov, cCAM BioTherapeutics Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp and Dohme Corp., known as “MSD” in Israel, has returned the rights to CM-24 to former cCAM shareholders and founders of FameWave, following an initial phase I dose ranging study of CM-24 as single agent.
