SIRPα antagonist

Clinical research has shown that the current wave of checkpoint-centric therapies is beneficial in those patients with immunologically active and highly-mutated so-called ‘hot’ tumors. But they have limited efficacy in those tumor types that lack these properties, commonly known as ‘cold’ tumors. Boehringer Ingelheim has made a generational commitment to transforming cancer care, with the ultimate goal of curing a range of cancers. We are developing complementary platforms including T-cell engagers, oncolytic viruses, cancer vaccines, which have the potential to turn cold tumors hot, extending the benefits of immunotherapy to more people.

Immune/stromal modulators are part of our immuno-oncology strategy to boost the body’s immune response against the cancer.

SIRPα is part of the CD47/SIRPα pathway that controls the activation of macrophages and dendritic cells. The distinct properties of these cells have led researchers to consider them an important new class of targets for cancer immunology research. CD47 is a surface molecule on numerous cell types including tumor cells and is often associated with poor prognosis. In many cancer types, CD47 forms a potent ‘don’t eat me’ signaling complex with SIRPα that triggers a cascade of events that enables cancer cells to avoid detection by the innate immune system and inhibits the ability of macrophage cells to fight cancer.

Our SIRPα antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the SIRPα/CD47 interaction pathway. This may restore the capacity of macrophages to attack tumor cells directly and enhance anti-tumor immunity.

This compound is under investigation, further information will be available soon.