Data describe the preclinical activity of AB-101, an allogeneic NK cell product candidate, in combination with CD38 therapeutic antibodies in multiple myeloma model systems without the need for CD38 editing

Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage company whose mission is to deliver highly effective, off-the-shelf, allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies that are safe and accessible to cancer patients, announced today the presentation of preclinical efficacy data combining anti-CD38 antibodies with AB-101, the Company’s clinical-stage ADCC-enhancer product candidate, in multiple myeloma models. The data will be presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH 2022) Annual Meeting & Exposition taking place December 10-13, in New Orleans.

“These data provide additional support for the versatility of AB-101 as a highly scaled, off-the-shelf, ADCC-enhancing NK cell product candidate for therapeutic use in combination with monoclonal antibodies and NK cell engagers,” said Peter Flynn, Ph.D., cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of Artiva. “Specifically, these data support the use of our platform in combination with anti-CD38 antibodies such as DARZALEX^® and SARCLISA^®, without the requirement for engineering or editing of our NK cells.”

The data to be presented highlight the naturally low expression of CD38 and high and consistent expression of CD16 on AB-101, enabling its use with anti-CD38 antibodies for enhanced ADCC activity without the requirement for CD38 editing. AB-101 resistance to daratumumab-induced fratricide and glucocorticoid inhibition will be presented as well as preclinical in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of the AB-101 combination with anti-CD38 antibodies.

Details of the presentation are as follows:

Title: Pre-Clinical Efficacy of AB-101, an Allogeneic Cord-Blood Derived Natural Killer (NK) Cell Therapeutic Candidate, in Combination with Anti-CD38 Antibodies in Models of Multiple Myeloma

Publication Number: 3303

Session Name: 703. Cellular Immunotherapies: Basic and Translational: Poster II

Session Date: Sunday, December 11, 2022

Presentation Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM CST

Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall D

The accepted abstract is available online through the ASH conference website: www.hematology.org/Annual-Meeting/Abstracts/.

About AB-101

AB-101 is a cord blood-derived, allogeneic, cryopreserved, ADCC-enhancing NK cell therapy candidate for use in combination with monoclonal antibodies or innate-cell engagers. Artiva selects cord blood units with the high affinity variant of the receptor CD16 and a KIR-B haplotype for enhanced product activity. Artiva can generate thousands of doses of pure, cryopreserved, infusion-ready NK cells from a single umbilical cord blood unit while retaining the high and consistent expression of CD16 without the need for engineering. Artiva is conducting a Phase 1/2 multicenter clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04673617) to assess the safety and clinical activity of AB-101 alone and in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell-non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who have progressed beyond two or more prior lines of therapy.

About Artiva Biotherapeutics

Artiva’s mission is to deliver highly effective, off-the-shelf, allogeneic NK cell-based therapies utilizing our Manufacturing-First approach, that are safe and accessible to cancer patients. Artiva’s pipeline includes AB-101, an ADCC enhancer NK-cell therapy candidate for use in combination with monoclonal antibodies or innate-cell engagers. Artiva is currently advancing a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AB-101 in combination with rituximab for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. Artiva’s pipeline also includes AB-201, an anti-HER2 CAR-NK cell therapy candidate for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing tumors, such as breast, gastric, and bladder cancers, and for which an IND has been allowed by FDA, and a pipeline of CAR-NK candidates targeting both solid and hematopoietic cancers. Artiva has entered into therapeutic NK cell collaborations with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. and with Affimed GmbH. Artiva’s AlloNK™ platform incorporates cell expansion, activation, and engineering technology developed by Artiva’s strategic partner, GC Cell Corporation, a member of the GC family of companies, a leading healthcare company in Korea. Artiva is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, visit www.artivabio.com.

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