THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
The Strength of Arenaviruses as Immuneactivating Therapeutics
Arenaviruses are negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that are members of the family Arenaviridae and are genetically very diverse due to specific adaptations to their respective host. The name of this virus family derives from the Latin “arena” for “sand” due to the grainy appearance of particles inside the virus when viewed in cross-section.
One of the best studied arenaviruses classified under the category mammarenavirus is the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), which normally infects rodents and has four specific properties making it an ideal candidate to aim a patient’s immune system against cancer cells:
01 – Highly potent immune activator
02 – High rate of replication but does not destroy its host cells
03 – Prolonged persistence in host cells
04 – Specific replication in tumor and antigen-presenting cells
Combined, these unique features of LCMV and possibly other arenaviruses within the mammarenavirus classification, make them ideal tools for a new treatment modality that induces a maximal, comprehensive immune response towards tumor cells including distant metastases.
Immunestimulation to fight tumor cells from within
Our Unique AdaptInnate Platform
Abalos is leveraging its proprietary AdaptInnate technology platform to develop a new class of product candidates harnessing the immunostimulatory and anti-tumoral properties of arenaviruses to trigger a highly precise and directed immune response against primary tumors and their metastases. By specifically infecting, persisting and replicating inside of cancerous and antigen-presenting cells without destroying them, the systemically administrable candidates aim to trigger a tailored immune reaction from inside the tumor. This novel, non-oncolytic approach results in the induction of targeted, effective, and durable anti-tumor activity involving both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system.
Our Lead Candidate ABX-001
Abalos is currently advancing ABX-001, the first candidate from its proprietary AdaptInnate platform, towards clinical evaluation. In preclinical studies, systemic administration of ABX-001 has shown marked tumor regression in multiple tumor models, induction of tumor-specific T cells, as well as an excellent pre-clinical safety profile in non-human primates. In addition, a robust and scalable cGMP manufacturing process, which allows for manufacturing at high yield, has been established.
Based on these promising results, Abalos is currently preparing the initiation of a first-in-human clinical trial with ABX-001 in patients with solid tumors, which is expected to start in 2025.
Abalos’ Unique Mechanism of Action
Infection
Virus preferentially infects tumor and antigen presenting cells
Induction
Viral infection induces cytokine response, which signals and attracts immune cells to the tumor
Invasion
Released cytokines induce invasion of tumor-specific T cells
Elimination
Cytotoxic T cells kill tumor cells
Abalos Therapeutics
Our Scientific Foundation
Abalos Therapeutics was founded to translate the innovative research of immunology and virology experts Karl Lang and Philipp Lang into novel anti-cancer therapies. They identified a specific set of mammarenaviruses that preferentially infect and proliferate in cancer cells, which results in a very strong and targeted immune response against the cancer. These findings provided a novel strategy to enable a precise immune response and activate all relevant immune cell types against primary tumors and metastases.
Prof. Dr. Karl Lang
Chair of Immunology at the Medical Faculty, University Duisburg-Essen