Almac Discovery to Present Updates on Key Oncology Programmes at the 2020 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II

June 18, 2020

Presentations highlight significant new data for key oncology drug development programmes – USP7 small molecule inhibitors and ROR1 Protein: Drug Conjugates

Belfast & Edinburgh, UK, 18 Jun 2020Almac Discovery has announced that it will present significant new data on their lead Oncology programmes – the next generation protein drug conjugate programme targeting
ROR1, and its lead small molecule inhibitor programme targeting USP7 in poster sessions at this year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Virtual Annual Meeting II, which is being held June 22 – 24, 2020. Both programmes are advancing towards the nomination of candidate drugs, and the new data highlight significant progress that has been made in the last year towards this goal.

“We have developed ADP-c165, a potent and selective ROR1-targeting protein drug conjugate that exploits the properties of small VNAR protein domains. This agent shows excellent efficacy in patient derived xenograft
models with complete and durable regressions observed. We are excited to share this data at the 2020 AACR Virtual Annual Meeting and the potential of this novel PDC for the treatment of solid tumour indications,
particularly triple-negative breast cancer.” commented Graham Cotton, Head of Protein Therapeutics, Almac Discovery.

Xavier Jacq, VP Biology at Almac Discovery, said. “Using our potent and highly selective USP7 inhibitors, we have uncovered a completely novel mode of action for USP7 in modulating and reprograming the tumour
microenvironment by directly impacting VEGF secretion from fibroblasts. In addition to the established modulation of the p53/MDM2 pathway in cancer cells, this important finding supports new opportunities for
combining USP7 inhibitors with immune modulators. We are delighted to share our recent discovery differentiating USP7 inhibition from MDM2 antagonists at the upcoming AACR Virtual Annual Meeting.”

Details of the two abstracts and poster presentations are as follows:

Title: Discovery of a novel function for USP7 inhibitors: Reprogramming the tumour microenvironment
Authors: Anamarija Jurisic, Julien Daubriac, Mark Wappett, Ian T. Lobb, Aaron Cranston, Stephanie Burton, Peggy Sung, Gerald Gavory, Colin R. O’Dowd, Tim Harrison, Xavier Jacq. Almac Discovery, Belfast, United
Kingdom
Abstract Number: 8303
Session: Drug Targets in the Microenvironment
Poster Number: #6057
Type: E-poster
Date & Time: 22 June 2020 (9:00AM – 6:00PM EDT)

Title: Exploiting the properties of VNAR domains for the development of novel efficacious protein drug conjugates targeting the oncofetal protein ROR1
Authors: Graham Cotton, Jennifer Thom, Paul Trumper, Andrei Kamenski, Stacey Bell, Mark Wappett, Caroline Barelle, Marina Kovaleva, Alicia Campion, Elisa Persiani, Andrew Porter, Estelle McLean, Aidan McCann, Chiara Saladino, Aaron Cranston, Tim Harrison. Almac Discovery, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Elasmogen Ltd, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, Almac Discovery, Belfast, United Kingdom
Abstract Number:2785
Session: Antibody Technologies

Poster Number: 538
Type: E-poster
Date & Time: 22 June 2020 (9:00AM – 6:00PM EDT)

These abstracts are available online and will be included in an online-only proceedings supplement to the AACR journal Cancer Research members following the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting II. The posters are expected to be available on the AACR website on 22 June 2020.

About Almac Discovery

Almac Discovery is an innovative biotech company operating within and supported by the Almac Group of companies. It is led by an experienced team (ex-Pharma and Biotech), with a track record in delivering successful clinical programmes. Almac Discovery utilises its capabilities and expertise to discover and develop NCEs and Novel Protein Therapeutics through to the pre-clinical candidate/IND-ready stages, after which it seeks to collaborate with partners to continue their development. Its core expertise and arising portfolio are focused on two areas:

a. Targeting the Deubiquitinating enzyme class (DUBs) linked to protein homeostasis and degradation through the application of its proprietary UbiPlex technology platform, and
b. Next Generation Protein: Drug Conjugate (PDC) technology platform utilising minimal antigen-binding domains combined with Almac’s novel, proprietary linker and payload technology.

Drug programmes derived from these platforms are currently being prosecuted both in house and with external collaborators.
For more information, please visit almacgroup.com/discovery or e-mail [email protected].

About Almac Group

A unique culture delivering exceptional solutions

The Almac Group is an established contract development and manufacturing organisation providing an extensive range of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle to the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors globally. Its innovative services range from R&D, biomarker discovery development and commercialisation, API manufacture, analytical services, formulation development, clinical trial supply, IRT (IVRS/IWRS) through to commercial-scale manufacture.

The international company is a privately owned organisation which has grown organically over the past five decades now employing over 5,600 highly skilled personnel across 18 facilities including Europe, the US and
Asia.

To keep up to date with latest news, follow Almac Group on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit almacgroup.com.

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