CLN-619 demonstrated monotherapy activity across a range of tumor types, including in patients whose cancer had progressed on checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Initial data indicate an acceptable safety profile of CLN-619 across all doses assessed

Based on observed clinical activity in gynecological malignancies, Cullinan to initiate monotherapy expansion cohorts in endometrial and cervical cancers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGEM), a biopharmaceutical company focused on modality-agnostic targeted oncology therapies, today announced first monotherapy clinical data from its Phase 1 study of CLN-619 in patients with advanced solid tumors. Findings from the clinical trial will be shared at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting as a poster presentation during the “Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy” session (poster # 2532) on June 3, 2023 from 8:00 AM-11:00 AM Central Time. CLN-619 is being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Summary of Key Clinical Results from Monotherapy Arm of Phase 1 Clinical Trial in Patients with Solid Tumors:

• Monotherapy dose escalation demonstrates acceptable safety profile of CLN-619 across all doses assessed (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 6, 10mg/kg):
  • No dose-limiting toxicities were observed
  • Consistent with other monoclonal antibodies, infusion-related reactions were limited to the first dose and all grade 1/2 in patients receiving mandated pre-medication
• Data demonstrate monotherapy anti-tumor activity of CLN-619, including objective tumor responses, across multiple tumor types:

• One CR was observed in a patient with parotid gland cancer whose cancer had progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy
• Two PRs (pending confirmation) were observed in patients with endometrial cancer, one whose cancer had progressed on prior checkpoint inhibitor therapy
• Stable disease was observed in patients across multiple tumor types, including cervical, ovarian, salivary gland, and breast cancers
• Patients were heavily pre-treated with a median of 3 prior systemic therapies (1 – 7), and 54% had received prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy
• The trial continues to enroll in both the monotherapy and combination arms.
  

"We are encouraged by the first clinical data for CLN-619 monotherapy, which demonstrates broad potential across a range of tumor types. Objective responses and sustained stable disease were observed, including in patients whose tumors had relapsed on or were not amenable to checkpoint inhibitor therapy,” said Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Cullinan Oncology. “Notably, clinical activity was observed in multiple gynecologic cancer types of high unmet need. Based on these initial efficacy observations, we will initiate expansion cohorts in endometrial and cervical cancer and look to expand in additional tumor-specific cohorts as the data matures. Additionally, the Phase 1 trial continues to evaluate CLN-619 in combination with pembrolizumab, and we look forward to sharing the results at a future medical meeting.”

“These data demonstrate the potential of CLN-619 to treat a range of solid tumors. Along with the monotherapy efficacy of CLN-619, we also observed a favorable safety profile, with most adverse events being grade 2 or lower,” said Judy Wang, MD, Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute. “We need new ways to help overcome immune evasion mechanisms, and CLN-619 is an antibody that is designed to render cancer cells visible to the immune system by binding to MICA and MICB, stress-induced ligands that engage the activating receptor NKG2D present on both innate and adaptive immune cells, representing a novel approach to enable immune-mediated elimination of tumors.”

“Over 66,000 new cases of endometrial cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. The incidence has been rising for more than a decade, particularly in the more aggressive subtypes, and uterine cancer is projected to surpass colorectal cancer as the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women by 2040.^1,2 Despite recent advances in endometrial cancer therapeutics, this patient population is often affected by other co-morbidities, so safer and more effective treatment options are urgently needed to address a growing unmet need” said Vicky Makker, MD, Section Head of the Endometrial Cancer Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “That need extends across gynecologic cancers. In cervical cancer, treatment options remain limited, and even with improvements in screening to reduce incidence rates, approximately 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually and greater than 4,000 women die of this malignancy each year in the U.S.³”

CLN-619 Further Development Plan

CLN-619 is being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. The study design allows dose level extensions as well as expansion in tumor-specific cohorts. Consistent with prespecified criteria and based on initial safety and efficacy observations, Cullinan will initiate monotherapy expansion cohorts in endometrial cancer and cervical cancer. Additional expansion cohorts may be initiated based upon clinical activity observed in the current trial.

Virtual and Live Investor Event

Cullinan Oncology will host an Investor Event on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at 7:00 am Central Time, during which Dr. Jeff Jones, Chief Medical Officer at Cullinan Oncology, will present an overview of CLN-619 data shared at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting, and Dr. Vicky Makker, MD, Section Head of the Endometrial Cancer Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will share an overview of the current treatment landscape for endometrial cancer. Investors and analysts are invited to register to attend in-person by emailing Chad Messer, VP Investor Relations (cmesser@cullinanoncology.com). A live webcast will be available via the events page of the Company’s investor relations website at https://cullinanoncology.com/events-and-presentations/, and a replay  will be available shortly after the conclusion of the live event.

About CLN-619
CLN-619 is a potential first-in-class humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to the stress induced ligands, MICA and MICB, which are expressed on a wide variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Engagement of MICA/B by the activating receptor NKG2D, present on both cytotoxic innate and adaptive immune cells, results in target cell lysis. However, tumor cells can shed MICA/B via proteases they release into the tumor microenvironment, resulting in evasion of immune-mediated destruction. CLN-619 functions by restoring MICA/B expression on the surface of tumor cells, enhancing the interaction between MICA and NKG2D, and inducing antibody-dependent cellular toxicity (ADCC), together promoting anti-tumor activity via multiple immune-mediated mechanisms. CLN-619 is being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial both as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab. The study design allows dose level extensions as well as expansion in tumor-specific cohorts.

About Cullinan Oncology

Cullinan Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CGEM) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating new standards of care for patients with cancer. We innovate without borders to find the most promising clinic-ready cancer therapies, whether from our own discovery efforts or through exceptional engagement with our academic and industry partners. Anchored in a deep understanding of immuno-oncology and translational cancer medicine, we leverage our scientific excellence in small molecules and biologics to create differentiated ideas, identify unique targets, and select the optimal modality to develop transformative therapeutics across cancer indications. Powered by our novel research model, we push conventional boundaries from candidate selection to cancer therapeutic, applying rigorous early experimentation to fast-track only the most promising assets to the clinic and ultimately commercialization. As a result, our diversified pipeline is strategically built with assets that activate the immune system or inhibit key oncogenic drivers across a wide range of modalities, each with the potential to be the best or first in their class.

Our people possess deep scientific expertise, seek innovation openly, and exercise creativity and urgency to deliver on our promise to bring new therapeutic solutions to patients with cancer. Learn more about our Company at www.cullinanoncology.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding Cullinan’s beliefs and expectations regarding the potential benefits and therapeutic potential of CLN-619; our clinical development plans and timelines; our plans regarding future data presentations and other statements that are not historical facts. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following: uncertainty regarding the timing and results of regulatory submissions; success of our clinical trials and preclinical studies; risks related to our ability to protect and maintain our intellectual property position; risks related to manufacturing, supply, and distribution of our product candidates; risks related to the impact of COVID-19 affecting countries or regions in which we have operations or do business, including potential negative impacts on our employees, customers, supply chain and production as well as global economies and financial markets; the risk that any one or more of our product candidates, including those that are co-developed, will not be successfully developed and commercialized; the risk that the results of preclinical studies or clinical studies will not be predictive of future results in connection with future studies; and success of any collaboration, partnership, license or similar agreements. These and other important risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change, except to the extent required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Moreover, except as required by law, neither Cullinan nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking statement included in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it was made.

Contacts:

Investor Relations
Chad Messer
+1 203.464.8900
cmesser@cullinanoncology.com

Media
Rose Weldon
+1 215.801.7644
rweldon@cullinanoncology.com

References:

1. NCI/SEER Uterine Cancer Stat Facts (https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/corp.html)
2. Rahib  L, Wehner  MR, Matrisian  LM, Nead  KT.  Estimated projection of US cancer incidence and death to 2040.   JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(4):e214708.
3. Cervical Cancer Statistics | CDC