Purple Biotech Ltd. reported new biomarker data for its lead oncology drug, CM24, a first-in-class anti-CEACAM1 monoclonal antibody. Data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference: Pancreatic Cancer in Boston in a scientific poster titled: ?Phase 1 Study of CM24 in Combination with Nivolumab in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer ? Survival, Exploratory Biomarkers and Effect on Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)?.

The poster shows that higher pre-treatment levels of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes that express CEACAM1may associated with longer survival in patients treated with CM24 and nivolumab. In addition, the poster shows high expression of CEACAM1 on neutrophils and NETs, and enhanced levels of serum NETs in PDAC patients, and demonstrates for the first time that CM24 treatment significantly reduced the level of NET marker in patients? serum.

The CM24 and nivolumab combination has shown in phase 1 encouraging initial activity and safety profile in PDAC patients who have progressed after second-line therapy. CM24?s novel target is CEACAM1, which is overexpressed on tumor cells and infiltrating immune cells. CM24 is now being evaluated in a randomized Phase 2 study (NCT04731467) in combination with Bristol Myers Squib?s nivolumab plus standard of care (SoC) chemotherapy, as a second line treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The primary endpoint is overall survival of patients treated with CM24 in combination with nivolumab and SoC chemotherapy vs. SoC chemotherapy alone.