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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – 23andMe Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ME), a company known for its genetic testing services and drug development, announced today that it will present research findings on two of its cancer immunotherapy programs at the upcoming American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, scheduled for April 5-10, 2024.
The company’s oral presentation will focus on the discovery of ULBP6 as a high-affinity ligand for the NKG2D receptor, a key element in the immune system’s ability to combat tumors. ULBP6 is the primary target of 23ME-01473, a monoclonal antibody with a dual mechanism of action.
The antibody is designed to block the binding of soluble ULBP6, potentially reversing the immune suppression caused by cancers that shed ULBP ligands to evade immune detection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for 23ME-01473, which is set to be evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical study for advanced solid tumors in the first half of 2024.
In addition to the oral presentation, 23andMe will share poster presentations detailing the biology of ULBP6 and the mechanism of action of 23ME-01473, as well as insights into the CD200R1 pathway targeted by 23ME-00610, another of the company’s therapeutic candidates. 23ME-00610 is currently in Phase 2a of a Phase 1/2a clinical study, aiming to inhibit the CD200R1 receptor to restore immune cell function against cancer cells.
The presentations will be the first scientific communications from 23andMe regarding these programs since the company announced its pursuit of these novel targets. The research leverages 23andMe’s genetic and health survey database to identify and validate these targets, reflecting the company’s genetics-led approach to drug discovery.
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