VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a diverse pipeline of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics to improve the standard of care for difficult-to-treat diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disease, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the investigational new drug (IND) application for ZW251, a novel glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeted ADC incorporating the company’s proprietary topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (TOPO1i) payload, ZD06519, for the treatment of HCC.
HCC is the most common type of primary liver cancer, with GPC3 expressed in over 75% of cases1. ZW251 is a potential first-in-class ADC engineered to selectively target GPC3. It is composed of a humanized IgG1 antibody conjugated to a novel camptothecin-based TOPO1i using a validated peptide cleavable linker. A drug-antibody-ratio (DAR) of four was selected for ZW251 as a lower DAR potentially could unlock a broader range of dose levels, a potential benefit as HCC patients are commonly challenged by impairment of liver function as a result of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. In preclinical studies, ZW251 demonstrated strong activity in a range of HCC models, including a range of patient derived xenografts exhibiting a breadth of GPC3 expression and noteworthy tolerability in non-human primate toxicology studies at doses up to 120 mg/kg.
“This advancement marks the second ADC from our wholly-owned pipeline, utilizing our proprietary TOPO1i payload, to progress into clinical development, reinforcing confidence in our approach,” said Paul Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Zymeworks. “Like ZW191, which is currently in clinical trials, ZW251 utilizes the same payload paired with an optimized antibody. Our observations with ZW191 in the clinic to date provide a strong foundation as we initiate clinical development of this second ADC. With its novel design, unique mechanism of action, and promising preclinical activity, ZW251 offers the potential to meaningfully improve upon the current standard of care for HCC either as a monotherapy or in combination.”
We plan to commence Phase 1 clinical studies for ZW251 in 2025.
About Zymeworks Inc.
Zymeworks is a global clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel, multifunctional biotherapeutics. Zymeworks’ mission is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people impacted by difficult-to-treat conditions such as cancer, inflammation, and autoimmune disease. The Company’s complementary therapeutic platforms and fully integrated drug development engine provide the flexibility and compatibility to precisely engineer and develop highly differentiated antibody-based therapeutic candidates. Zymeworks engineered and developed zanidatamab, a HER2-targeted bispecific antibody using the Company’s proprietary Azymetric™ technology. Zymeworks has entered into separate agreements with BeOne Medicines Ltd. (formerly BeiGene, Ltd.) and Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited, granting each exclusive rights to develop and commercialize zanidatamab in different territories. The U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval and China’ s NMPA granted conditional approval for zanidatamab to treat adults with previously-treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer. The European Commission (EC) has granted conditional marketing authorization for Ziihera® as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer previously treated with at least one prior line of systemic therapy. Zanidatamab is the first and only dual HER2-targeted bispecific antibody approved for HER2-positive biliary tract cancer in the U.S., Europe, and China. In addition, zanidatamab is being evaluated in multiple global clinical trials as a potential best-in-class treatment for patients with multiple HER2-expressing cancers. Zymeworks is rapidly advancing a robust pipeline of wholly-owned product candidates, leveraging its expertise in both antibody-drug conjugates and multispecific antibody therapeutics targeting novel pathways in areas of significant unmet medical need. Phase 1 studies for ZW171 and ZW191 are actively recruiting and ZW251 is expected to enter clinical trials in 2025. In addition to Zymeworks’ pipeline, its therapeutic platforms have been further leveraged through strategic partnerships with global biopharmaceutical companies. For information about Zymeworks, visit www.zymeworks.com and follow @ZymeworksInc on X.
Contacts
Investor Inquiries:
Shrinal Inamdar
Senior Director, Investor Relations
(604) 678-1388
[email protected]
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Diana Papove
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(604) 678-1388
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