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Trillium Therapeutics (TSX:TRIL) doses its first patient in Phase 1b study

Health Care
TSX:TRIL
28 April 2021 15:30 (EDT)

Trillium Therapeutics (TRIL) has dosed its first patient in Phase 1b study of TTI-622 in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone.

TTI-622 is a fusion protein that is designed to block the inhibitory activity of CD47, a molecule that is overexpressed by a wide variety of tumours.

CD47 binds to SIRPα on macrophages and delivers a “don’t eat me” signal that inhibits the ability of macrophages to engulf and destroy cancer cells.

Preclinical studies have shown that TTI-622 exhibits anti-myeloma activity as a monotherapy that is enhanced when combined with proteasome inhibitors.

“With the dosing of this patient we have begun an exciting new phase of development for TTI-622,” commented Dr. Ingmar Bruns, Trillium’s Chief Medical Officer.

“This is the first patient to receive TTI-622 in combination with another anti-cancer agent, and we are eager to build upon the monotherapy activity that we have observed in multiple hematologic cancers,” added Bruns.

The combination of TTI-622 and carfilzomib plus dexamethasone is being assessed as part of the ongoing, open-label Phase 1a/1b study.

Approximately 30 relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients who have received at least 3 prior lines of therapy which must include a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 antibody will be enrolled.

The primary endpoints are safety and overall response rate.

“Despite the development of new therapeutics and combinations, there remains a significant unmet medical need for myeloma patients who relapse after earlier lines of therapy,” added Dr. Bruns.

“We believe that the combination of TTI-622 and carfilzomib plus dexamethasone has strong potential to address the unmet need and have a significant impact on the myeloma treatment landscape if approved,” concluded Dr. Bruns.

Trillium is an immuno-oncology company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer. 

Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TRIL) is down 5.75 per cent and is trading at USD$8.69 at 3:14 pm ET.

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