7:07AM Compugen presents experimental results supporting induction of immune tolerance by CGEN-15001 Drug Candidate; presentation will also disclose recent positive results from a humanized animal model of psoriasis (CGEN) 9.96 : Co disclosed results from an animal model study in which CGEN-15001, an Fc fusion protein drug candidate derived from a novel immune checkpoint protein discovered by Compugen, demonstrated potential to induce immune tolerance, a much desired goal for treatment of many immunological disorders. The presentation will also disclose recent positive results from a humanized animal model of psoriasis, further expanding the scope of autoimmune conditions potentially treatable by CGEN-15001. In her presentation, Dr. Rotman will disclose results from a recently completed bone marrow transplantation study in which CGEN-15001 was highly effective in preventing graft rejection, suggesting that this drug candidate acts through an induction of immune tolerance. Establishment of immune tolerance is a key goal in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In comparison to current therapeutic approaches that generally suppress the immune system, tolerance induction would provide a sustained resolution of the disease without compromising the immune system's capacity to fight infections and malignancies.
In this study, bone marrow cells from male mice were transplanted into female mice of the same strain, followed by monitoring of the number of male cells in their blood. In CGEN-15001 treated animals, successful engraftment of the transplanted bone marrow cells was observed, while in control animals the transplanted cells were rejected. These results suggest that treatment with CGEN-15001 induces immune tolerance towards the transplanted cells. Additional data will also be presented for CGEN-15001 supporting this highly desired mechanism of action in type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis animal models.
CGEN-15001 was injected into the skin graft starting on the day of disease induction, and the skin was subsequently analyzed for psoriatic histological characteristics. Results of this study demonstrated that treatment with CGEN-15001 was highly efficient in the prevention of psoriasis. Currently there is no cure for psoriasis, and treatment may include topical steroids, phototherapy, and systemic agents that suppress the immune system.
