24 January 2023 - - US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Wugen, Inc has presented preclinical data on WU-NK-101, the company's lead memory natural killer cell therapy product, in combination with cetuximab, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium taking place January 19-21, 2023, in San Francisco, California, the company said.

This presentation highlighted the following:

WU-NK-101 potency against colorectal cancer cells was further enhanced when combined with Ctx in vitro and in vivo, confirming an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity mechanism of action.

WU-NK-101 in combination with Ctx showed improved CRC cell killing compared to WU-NK-101 and Ctx monotherapy.

WU-NK-101 showed robust homing to the TME, which was further improved when combined with monoclonal antibodies.

Intra-tumor penetration and persistence was also increased when combined with mAb in in vivo models.

WU-NK-101 displayed enhanced metabolic fitness/flexibility and maintained cytotoxicity within adverse, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment -aligned media as compared to conventional NK and T-cells.

WU-NK-101 cells maintained cytotoxicity in a 3D TME model with native cellular components from primary CRC samples.

A Phase 1b clinical trial of WU-NK-101 in combination with Ctx for advanced and/or metastatic CRC and advanced and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is in development.

Wugen, Inc., is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing the next generation of off-the-shelf memory natural killer and CAR-T cell therapies for cancer.

Wugen is leveraging its proprietary Moneta platform and deep genomic engineering expertise to pioneer a new class of memory NK cell therapies to treat hematological and solid tumor malignancies.