BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Maverick Therapeutics, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company pioneering conditionally active bispecific T cell targeted immunotherapies, today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed article in mAbs, a leading journal focused on the science of antibody research and development. The article, titled “COBRA™: a highly potent conditionally active T cell engager engineered for the treatment of solid tumors,” establishes Maverick’s core platform in the context of the current T cell engager landscape as applied to solid tumors, and highlights Maverick’s technological advances in developing the next generation of conditionally active T cell engaging therapies for solid tumors. The article was published online in mAbs, Volume 12 Issue 1 and can be accessed at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420862.2020.1792130.

“The publication marks an exciting achievement for our company as the first peer-reviewed article that substantiates the innovative science behind our COBRA platform and what sets it apart from other bispecific T cell engaging therapies,” said Jim Scibetta, Chief Executive Officer, Maverick Therapeutics. “This new mechanism of action elegantly safeguards healthy tissue and creates a wide therapeutic window to more thoroughly eradicate tumors. It also establishes for Maverick a robust platform for fulfilling unmet needs in the treatment of solid tumors and advances our company’s vision to develop the next generation of safe and efficacious treatments to address a broad number of solid tumor cancers.”

The COBRA therapeutic platform takes advantage of the tumor’s highly proteolytic microenvironment for T cell activation, allowing it to safely target solid tumors with highly specific and potent activity. The publication describes the current limitations of inherently active first-generation T cell engagers as applied to solid tumors and Maverick’s unique approach in bispecific antibody design to develop a solution.

“We are encouraged by the interest and quick-turn of this publication, which lays out the on-target off-tumor toxicity problem with current T cell engagers for the treatment of solid tumors and describes the rationale for creating protease-activated prodrugs as a solution,” said Robert DuBridge, Ph.D., EVP, Research and Chief Technology Officer, Maverick Therapeutics. “I, along with the team at Maverick, look forward to further validating our novel COBRA platform as we prepare for upcoming clinical activity in 2021.”

Maverick’s first-in-class COBRA programs, MVC-101 and MVC-280, have generated promising preclinical data designed to validate the COBRA mechanism of action and be predictive of translation to patients. Preclinical models for MVC-101 and MVC-280 indicate that these conditionally active molecules have a therapeutic index that is up to 100 times greater than that of an inherently active first-generation T cell engager. Maverick expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial of MVC-101 in Q1 2021 and MVC-280 in H2 2021.

About the COBRA™ Platform
Maverick Therapeutics’ COBRA™ platform is the most mature conditionally active bispecific T cell engaging platform designed to safely target a broad range of solid tumors with highly specific and potent activity while limiting on-target toxicities in normal tissues. By nature of its highly innovative design, the COBRA platform reflects a novel approach to T cell engaging immunotherapies where T cell activation and resulting cell killing only take place where it is needed – in tumors. This unique design delivers the long sought trifecta in cancer care; high specificity, high potency and reduced toxicity.

About MVC-101
Maverick Therapeutics’ lead program candidate, MVC-101, is a proprietary COBRA™ molecule designed to target the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a protein expressed on both malignant and healthy tissues. MVC-101 regressed established human tumors in several preclinical models. Exposures of MVC-101 at efficacious relative to tolerated doses in safety studies demonstrates an increased therapeutic index compared to standard T cell engagers. MVC-101 is designed to be a universal solution for patients with EGFR expressing solid tumor cancers. EGFR is expressed on a wide range of solid tumor cancers, including but not limited to colorectal, head & neck, renal, pancreatic, cervical and non small cell lung cancers. Maverick expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial in Q1 2021.

About MVC-280
Maverick Therapeutics’ second program candidate, MVC-280, is a proprietary COBRA™ molecule designed to target B7H3 (CD276). B7H3 is expressed in a broad range of malignant and healthy tissues, similar to EGFR. MVC-280 regressed established tumors in several preclinical models. It is cross-reactive to its target protein expressed on mouse tissues, creating an opportunity to measure both efficacy and relative safety in the same preclinical model and use that data to calculate a therapeutic index. MVC-280 is designed to be a universal solution for patients with B7H3 expressing solid tumor cancers. B7H3 is expressed on a wide range of solid tumor cancers, including but not limited to prostate, renal, triple negative breast, head & neck, ovarian and urothelial cancers. Maverick expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial in H2 2021.

About Maverick Therapeutics
Maverick Therapeutics is establishing itself as the leader in the race to apply T cell therapy to solid tumor cancers by focusing deep integrated expertise in drug development to design and deliver a pioneering immunotherapy platform. Maverick’s highly innovative COBRA™ therapeutic platform is the most mature, conditionally active bispecific T cell engaging platform designed to eliminate solid tumors. With COBRA, T cell activation and resulting cell killing only take place where it is needed – in tumors. This unique design delivers the long sought trifecta in cancer care; high specificity, high potency and reduced toxicity. Founded in 2016, Maverick is led by a team of leading experts in protein engineering and T cell therapeutic research and development. In early 2017, Maverick announced $125 million of committed funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals (“Takeda”), MPM BioVentures 2014 and MPM Capital’s UBS Oncology Impact Fund. For further information, please visit www.mavericktx.com.

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