HCW Biologics Lead Candidate Shows Preclinical Anti-Tumor Activity, Reduced Side Effects of Chemo

HCW Biologics Inc HCWB has announced the publication of a scientific paper in Molecular Therapy highlighting preclinical data of its lead program, HCW9218.

• The preclinical data demonstrated that HCW9218 enhanced the anti-tumor efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and diminished their harmful side effects by reducing therapy-induced senescence (TIS).
• Cellular senescence is an essential mechanism for tumor suppression. However, chemotherapy & radiation, standard-of-care anti-cancer regimens, cause the accumulation of senescent cells both in tumor and normal tissue. 
• Paradoxically, Cellular senescence protects non-dividing cancer cells by limiting the effect of chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation and contributes to chemoresistance, radiation resistance, disease relapse, and systemic side effects. 
• In addition, the data exhibited that HCW9218 in combination chemotherapies can further augment the anti-cancer activities of therapeutic and immune-checkpoint antibodies against solid tumors. 
• HCW Biologics received FDA clearance in October 2021 of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Phase 1b trial to evaluate HCW9218 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. 
• Price Action: HCWB shares are up 11.1% at $2.30 during the premarket session on the last check Thursday.