MIF invests in KAHR to explore lead immunotherapy drug for multiple myeloma
KAHR, a clinical stage biotech company that is developing a treatment for solid tumors and blood cancers has received investment from the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF).
MIF has made the investment to explore the potential of DSP107, KAHR’s leading immunotherapy drug candidate for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
“We are thrilled to partner with KAHR to help advance DSP107 as a potential drug candidate for multiple myeloma,” said Peter Kosa, managing director of MIF.
“This investment reinforces our commitment to drive the development of the most innovative treatment approaches for myeloma patients.”
MIF investment to explore potential
Yaron Pereg, CEO of KAHR, added “We are excited to have the Myeloma Investment Fund join our syndicate of investors. This vote of confidence helps us advance the clinical development of our lead product candidate, DSP107, which is being tested in multiple clinical studies for the benefit of patients who are non-responsive or refractory to existing therapies.”
Together with the current investment, KAHR has raised a total of $59 million since June 2021 in private placements supported by aMoon Fund, Flerie Invest AB, Peregrine Ventures, BVF Partners LP, DAFNA Capital Management LLC, Consensus Business Group, Hadasit Bio Holdings Ltd (HBL), Mirae Asset, Shavit Capital, Pavilion Capital, Cancer Focus Fund and Remedii.
Targeted macrophage
DSP107 binds to and inhibits CD47, an immune checkpoint protein overexpressed in many cancers that enables the tumor to evade immune recognition and attack by macrophages. Simultaneously, when anchored to the tumor, DSP107 binds 4-1BB, a co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T-cells, recruits them to the tumor microenvironment and stimulates their activation. These activities result in targeted macrophage and T-cell mediated immune activation and tumor destruction.
DSP107 has demonstrated an excellent safety profile, no binding to red blood cells, biological activity, and high disease control rates in a phase 1 trial of patients with advanced solid tumors. DSP107 is also being tested in combination with Atezolizumab in a phase 1/2 trial in patients with advanced solid tumors and in combination with standard of care therapies for relapsed/refractory AML and MDS patients in a phase 1b study.
DSP107, is a CD47x41BB targeting compound. DSP107 is being tested in a phase 1/2 clinical trial in advanced solid tumors and a phase 1b clinical trial in blood cancers. KAHR’s preclinical pipeline includes DSP502, a PVRxPD-L1 targeting fusion protein, and DSP216, an HLA-GxCD47 targeting fusion protein.