NeoImmuneTech, Inc. (NIT), a global leader in T-cell-based immunotherapy, today presented a poster on a pre-clinical study that opens a new field of potential applications for NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa). The poster was presented at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting (April 5-10, 2024, San Diego, CA).
The study explored the efficacy of NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa) in combination with FOLFOX® (a combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin), a first-line standard of care (SoC) for colorectal cancer, in an animal model of colorectal cancer (MC38, C57BL/6 mice).
The study’s findings suggest a significant improvement in treatment outcomes when NT-I7 is used alongside FOLFOX®, demonstrating a 69% reduction in tumor size compared to the administration of FOLFOX® alone. While the overall Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) in the blood was reduced by FOLFOX® treatment, the number of anti-cancer specific T cells in the tumor was significantly increased in the combination group compared to FOLFOX® alone.
NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa) is the only clinical-stage long-acting human IL-7, and is being developed in oncologic and immunologic indications, where T cell amplification and increased functionality may provide clinical benefit. IL-7 is a fundamental cytokine for naïve and memory T cell development and for sustaining immune response to chronic antigens (as in cancer) or foreign antigens (as in infectious diseases). NT-I7 exhibits favorable PK/PD and safety profiles, making it an ideal combination partner. NT-I7 is being studied in multiple clinical trials in solid tumors and as vaccine adjuvant. Studies are being planned for testing in hematologic malignancies, additional solid tumors and other immunology-focused indications.