Antengene Corporation Limited (SEHK: 6996.HK) has announced plans to present results from six innovative oncology programs at two major scientific conferences this spring. The company will showcase four preclinical studies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in April, followed by clinical data from two ongoing trials at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in May-June.
Novel T-Cell Engagers and Synthetic Lethality Approaches at AACR
At AACR 2025, taking place April 25-30 in Chicago, Antengene will present data on four programs, including two that are expected to enter clinical development later this year.
ATG-201, a novel "2+1" CD19 x CD3 T-cell engager (TCE), demonstrated potent B-cell depletion with significantly reduced cytokine release compared to benchmark TCEs. This profile suggests potential applications in both B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases. In preclinical models, ATG-201 showed complete B-cell depletion in blood, bone marrow, and spleen, while maintaining a favorable safety profile.
"ATG-201 represents a potential advancement over current CD19-targeted therapies by addressing the cytokine release syndrome that has limited broader clinical application of TCEs," said a company spokesperson. The therapy is scheduled to enter clinical trials in the second half of 2025.
The company will also present data on ATG-042, a novel MTAPnull-selective PRMT5 inhibitor designed to exploit synthetic lethality in cancers with MTAP gene deletion. The compound demonstrated selective anti-proliferative activity against MTAPnull cancer cell lines with IC50 values between 10-100nM. Importantly, ATG-042 showed good brain penetration (B/P ratio=51% in mice), suggesting potential utility in brain tumors.
In xenograft models, ATG-042 demonstrated robust efficacy against MTAPnull tumors while sparing normal tissues. This selective approach aims to avoid the hematological toxicities associated with first-generation PRMT5 inhibitors. ATG-042 is also expected to enter clinical development in the second half of 2025.
Targeting Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer
Another highlight from AACR will be ATG-110, a "2+1" LY6G6D x CD3 TCE developed on Antengene's proprietary AnTenGagerTM TCE 2.0 platform. This therapy targets LY6G6D, which is expressed in microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer, a subtype that typically shows resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Preclinical data demonstrated that ATG-110 binds to LY6G6D-positive cell lines with nanomolar affinity and exhibits a unique mechanism where the CD3 binding site remains concealed until LY6G6D binding occurs. This design feature aims to reduce off-target T-cell activation and minimize cytokine release syndrome risk.
In PBMC-humanized xenograft models, ATG-110 showed potent anti-tumor activity against colorectal cancer, including complete responses in the HT55 model. These results suggest potential for addressing the significant unmet need in MSS colorectal cancer treatment.
Companion Diagnostic Development
Rounding out the AACR presentations, Antengene will share data on ATG1144, a diagnostic antibody developed to identify patients with CD24 expression for CD24-targeted therapies. The antibody demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity in immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining across multiple tumor types.
Tissue microarray analysis revealed that 50-80% of patients with lung, breast, bladder, ovarian, or liver cancer express CD24 on tumor cell surfaces, with low expression in normal adjacent tissues. This companion diagnostic could play a crucial role in patient selection for emerging CD24-targeted therapies.
Clinical Data at ASCO 2025
Following AACR, Antengene will present clinical data from two ongoing trials at ASCO 2025, scheduled for May 30-June 3 in Chicago.
The STAMINA-01 trial is evaluating ATG-037, a small molecule CD73 inhibitor, both as monotherapy and in combination with MSD's pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) in patients with advanced solid tumors. The company has reported encouraging preliminary results in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who previously developed resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. The dose optimization and expansion portion of this study is currently enrolling patients in China and Australia.
Additionally, Antengene will present data on ATG-008 (onatasertib), an mTORC1/2 inhibitor, in combination with toripalimab for patients with advanced cervical cancers who have received prior anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. This combination approach aims to overcome resistance mechanisms in patients who have progressed on immunotherapy.
Building a Diverse Oncology Pipeline
These presentations highlight Antengene's strategy of developing a diverse pipeline of oncology assets targeting both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The company currently has nine oncology assets at various development stages, including six with global rights.
"Our presentations at AACR and ASCO demonstrate our commitment to developing innovative therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers," said a company representative. "By exploring novel mechanisms like T-cell engagers, synthetic lethality, and combination approaches with immunotherapy, we aim to address significant unmet needs in oncology."
Antengene has obtained 31 investigational new drug approvals in the U.S. and Asia and has submitted new drug applications in 11 Asia Pacific markets. The company's commercial product, XPOVIO® (selinexor), has already received approval in multiple Asian markets, including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Australia.
