
Core Insights - Purple Biotech Ltd. is advancing its tri-specific antibody IM1240, targeting the tumor-associated antigen 5T4, towards first-in-human clinical trials with an IND submission planned for 2026 [1][6] - The collaboration with Dr. Amir Horowitz focuses on evaluating the CAPTN-3 antibody's effects on patient-derived tumor biopsies, particularly in treatment-resistant cancers [2][3] - IM1240 has shown to induce cancer cell apoptosis in resistant head and neck cancer biopsies, demonstrating a unique synergistic effect not observed in related bispecific antibodies [3][4] Company Overview - Purple Biotech is a clinical-stage company developing therapies to overcome tumor immune evasion and drug resistance, with a pipeline that includes CAPTN-3, CM24, and NT219 [6] - The CAPTN-3 platform utilizes conditionally activated tri-specific antibodies to engage T cells and NK cells, aiming for a strong immune response localized within the tumor microenvironment [6] - IM1240 is the first tri-specific antibody targeting the 5T4 antigen, which is associated with advanced disease and poor clinical outcomes in various solid tumors [6] Research and Development - Dr. Horowitz's research indicates that targeting NKG2A provides a selective checkpoint inhibition strategy, enhancing antitumor activity while minimizing off-target effects [4][5] - Analysis of approximately 26,000 human transcriptomes supports the design of IM1240, showing consistent expression of NKG2A with 5T4 in solid tissues [1][4] - The CAPTN-3 platform's unique design allows for the activation of immune cell subsets with high anti-tumor activity, potentially improving safety and efficacy [4][5]