ABL Bio is set to become the first Korean company to present its poster session at ASCO 2019. The company will be giving an update on phase 1 clinical trial of its anti-drug candidate substance ABL001, a bispecific antibody with indications for anti-cancer and eye treatment.

The poster session will cover the safety and efficacy of the treatment in metastatic gastric cancer. In phase 1 clinical trial, the company enrolled 18 patients from November 2017 to February 2019.

In a classical 3+3 dose-escalation design, the company administered ABL001 at doses ranging from 0.3, 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg/kg biweekly. All patients were heavily pre-treated with at least three prior lines of chemotherapy, while those receiving 5 and 7.5 mg/kg all had either metastatic colorectal cancer or gastric cancer.

Of the five cohorts, the company observed no dose-limiting toxicity during dose escalation. Also, there was no maximum tolerated dose identified up to 7.5 mg/kg dose. The most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were hypertension, anorexia, general weakness, headache, and anemia.

ABL Bio plans to proceed with the 1b/2a phase by combining chemotherapy with anti-PD-1 antibody after completing the phase 1a trials

ABL-001, one of ABL Bio’s main pipelines, is a bispecific antibody that binds simultaneously to VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), which play an essential role in the neovascularization process.

It has a high binding force to each antigen and has a structure that receives fewer structural interference when the antigen and antibody bind, which in turn, result in a high therapeutic effect. With such benefits, the company had signed a licensing-out agreement with TRIGR Therapeutics, a U.S. no research and development only (NRDO) company, for the substance.

ABL Bio is one of the fastest-growing companies in Korea. It has signed cooperation agreements with major local pharmaceutical companies, such as Yuhan, Dong-A ST and Handok, with its bispecific antibody technology.

The company plans to present its poster session on June 1, at Hall A of the McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.

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