Kineta’s KVA12.1 is in development for the treatment of solid tumors. VISTA is a key driver of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and is overexpressed on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). It is a critical myeloid cell immune-checkpoint, and VISTA blockade can reprogram suppressive myeloid cells and reactivate anti-tumor immune function.
Preclinical studies show single agent anti-tumor activity with KVA12.1, and also demonstrate that targeting VISTA in combination with PD-1, PD-L1 or CTLA-4 can significantly improve the anti-tumor efficacy of those checkpoint inhibitors. Kineta’s KVA12.1 aims to reprogram the TME in hard-to-treat solid tumors.
In the agreement announced today, Samsung Biologics will provide end-to-end CDMO service from cell line development, clinical drug substance and drug product manufacturing services to support IND filing for the immunotherapy.
The manufacturing cell line will be developed with support from Samsung Biologics’ R&D Center in San Francisco, while clinical trial materials will be manufactured at Samsung Biologics headquarters in Incheon, South Korea.
“Establishing this strategic partnership with Samsung is a critical step for Kineta as we advance KVA12.1 to IND and into first-in-human clinical trials next year”, said Shawn Iadonato, PhD, Chief Executive Officer at Kineta. “We are excited to collaborate with Samsung to initiate and scale up drug product manufacturing of our VISTA immunotherapy”.