Equillium Announces Additional Patient Data at ASH 2021 Demonstrating Continued Positive and Durable Clinical Responses in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Patients Treated with Itolizumab

LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Equillium, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing itolizumab to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders with high unmet medical need, today announced two poster presentations at the 63^rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), including additional patient data from EQUATE Phase 1b study in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) demonstrating a continued positive clinical impact on patients treated with itolizumab. Data collected at six months, at least four months after each patient’s last dose of itolizumab, showed that 79% (11 of 14) of patients who achieved any response (CR, VGPR or PR) at Day 29 maintained that response and were evaluated as having a complete response (CR) at six months (Day 169). These patients also experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in steroid administration during the evaluation period. Data were presented by John Koreth, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. The ongoing EQUATE study is evaluating itolizumab as a first-line treatment in severe aGVHD patients where there are no approved treatments for this severe, life-threatening disease.

“The six-month data, which includes five additional patients – all dosed at 0.8 mg/kg – continues to demonstrate the potential clinical value of itolizumab in this patient population who have no alternatives to steroids. I am encouraged to see that the early complete response rates seen in these extremely sick, high-risk aGVHD patients are maintained, as well as the concomitant reduction in systemic corticosteroid use, even after cessation of treatment for over four months,” said Dr. Koreth.

Data from 25 patients treated with itolizumab (0.4, 0.8 or 1.6 mg/kg) were presented. In patients treated within 3 days of first steroid administration (n=18), Day 29 complete response rates were 61% (11 of 18). Among all patients that have been evaluated at Day 169, outcomes were notable for durability of responses with 50% (11 of 22) of patients achieving a CR and overall survival rate of 64% (14 of 22), with a total of 12 of 14 (86%) responders alive at Day 169 compared to 2 of 8 (25%) non-responders. Responders also experienced a clinically meaningful mean reduction in steroid administration during the evaluation period. Itolizumab treatment was well tolerated across all doses, with reported adverse events consistent with a hospitalized severe aGVHD population, with 2 of 25 subjects (8%) reporting treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs). Itolizumab treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of CD6 expression on CD4+ T cells and an increase in the regulatory to effector T cell ratio in patients, consistent with the drug’s mechanism of action.

“As we collect additional data from the EQUATE study, we are encouraged by the continued promising impact that itolizumab has on the lives of patients with high-risk aGVHD,” said Dolca Thomas, executive vice president of research and development and chief medical officer of Equillium. “There is significant unmet need in this patient population for an effective treatment that resolves severe disease while reducing corticosteroid use. The data presented at ASH provides further validation for targeting CD6 to treat aGVHD. Feedback from hematologists and transplantation specialists is that the EQUATE study results are encouraging as a new potential therapeutic and we are optimistic as we advance itolizumab into a pivotal study in first-line treatment of aGVHD patients.”

Details of Itolizumab Data Presented at ASH 2021

Title: Itolizumab, a Novel Targeted Anti-CD6 Therapy, in Combination with Corticosteroids, Is Well-Tolerated, with Rapid Pharmacodynamic and Clinical Response in Newly Diagnosed Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease
First Author: Dr. John Koreth, associate professor of medicine, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
Session Name: 722. Allogeneic Transplantation: Acute and Chronic GVHD, Immune Reconstitution: Poster II
Publication Number: 2891

Title: Antigenic Modulation of CD6 By Itolizumab Is a New Mechanism for Effector T Cell Inhibition
First Author: Dalena Chu, Senior Research Associate, Equillium, Inc.,
Session Name: 203. Lymphocytes and Acquired or Congenital Immunodeficiency Disorders: Poster I
Publication Number: 995

In addition to these presentations, abstracts were published online in the November supplemental issue of Blood. To view the poster presentations, visit the Publications & Presentations page of Equillium’s website: https://www.equilliumbio.com/technology/publications-presentations/default.aspx.

About Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD)

GVHD is a multisystem disorder that is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (allo-HSCT) caused by the transplanted immune system recognizing and attacking the recipient’s body. Symptoms of GVHD include rash, itching, skin discoloration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice, as well as eye dryness and irritation.

GVHD is the leading cause of non-relapse mortality in cancer patients receiving allo-HSCT, and its risk limits the number and type of patients receiving HSCT. GVHD results in high morbidity and mortality, with five-year survival of approximately 53% in patients who respond to steroid treatment and mortality as high as 95% in patients who do not respond to steroids. There are no approved treatments for first-line aGVHD. Published literature (MacMillan et al., 2015) describes background response rates to high-dose steroid administration in severe high-risk patients as 43% overall response and 27% complete response.

About the EQUATE Study

The EQUATE study is a Phase 1b/2 trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical activity of itolizumab for first-line treatment in patients who present with aGVHD (NCT 03763318). The Phase 1b part of the trial is an open-label dose escalation study in adult patients who present with high-risk aGVHD and typically respond poorly to steroids. The Phase 1b data will inform selection of the dose to be used in the next phase of development for the program.

About Itolizumab

Itolizumab is a clinical-stage, first-in-class anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the CD6-ALCAM signaling pathway to selectively downregulate pathogenic T effector cells while preserving T regulatory cells critical for maintaining a balanced immune response. This pathway plays a central role in modulating the activity and trafficking of T cells that drive a number of immuno-inflammatory diseases. Equillium acquired rights to itolizumab through an exclusive partnership with Biocon Limited.

About Equillium

Equillium is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging deep understanding of immunobiology to develop novel products to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders with high unmet medical need. Equillium is developing itolizumab for multiple severe immuno-inflammatory diseases, including acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD), lupus/lupus nephritis and uncontrolled asthma.

For more information, visit www.equilliumbio.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the potential benefit of treating patients with aGVHD, uncontrolled asthma, or lupus/lupus nephritis with itolizumab, Equillium’s plans and expected timing for developing itolizumab including the expected timing of initiating, completing and announcing further results from the EQUATE, EQUIP, and EQUALISE studies, the potential for any of Equillium’s ongoing or planned clinical studies to show safety or efficacy, statements regarding the impact of new leadership team members, Equillium’s anticipated timing of regulatory review and feedback, Equillium’s cash runway, and Equillium’s plans and expected timing for developing itolizumab and potential benefits of itolizumab. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: uncertainties related to the abilities of the leadership team to perform as expected; Equillium’s ability to execute its plans and strategies; risks related to performing clinical studies; the risk that interim results of a clinical study do not necessarily predict final results and that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues, following more comprehensive reviews of the data, and as more patient data become available; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical studies and the reporting of data therefrom; the risk that studies will not be completed as planned; Equillium’s plans and product development, including the initiation and completion of clinical studies and the reporting of data therefrom; whether the results from clinical studies will validate and support the safety and efficacy of itolizumab; changes in the competitive landscape; uncertainties related to Equillium’s capital requirements; and having to use cash in ways or on timing other than expected and the impact of market volatility on cash reserves. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Equillium's filings and reports with the SEC. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Equillium undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213005294/en/