Press Release
Hornet Therapeutics emerges from stealth
with data published in Science
demonstrating the first potential drug intervention for
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) driven disease
- 4BIO Capital
incubated company launches with the first ever small molecule drug
that has potential for treating EBV-driven diseases
- New data
demonstrates decreased EBV latency upon inhibition of the host
metabolic enzyme IDO-1 in target cells
- The company
emerges from stealth with a strategic partnership with Kyowa Kirin
and seed financing by 4BIO Capital
- Hornet to
conduct proof-of-concept studies for EBV-driven disease with IDO-1
inhibitor, HTX-201, exclusively in-licensed from Kyowa Kirin
LONDON, 23 May 2024 – Hornet
Therapeutics (“Hornet”), a biotech company focused on developing
treatments to address EBV-driven pathologies, today emerges from
stealth with the publication of data in the prestigious journal
Science, which reports IDO-1 as a host enzyme hijacked by EBV.
These data demonstrate that EBV requires IDO-1 to efficiently
establish latent infection and causing downstream pathology.
The study specifically identified IDO-1-driven
NAD biosynthesis as a metabolic pathway that EBV exploits to meet
the bioenergetic demands of nascent infected B cells. Targeting
this pathway with an IDO-1 inhibitor hinders B cell transformation
and EBV-driven pathogenesis in vitro and in animal models in vivo.
This novel early intervention-approach with IDO-1 inhibition
provides a therapeutic strategy to prevent EBV-associated diseases,
including lymphomas.
Decades of conventional antiviral development
have failed to deliver a small molecule compound capable of
effectively and specifically targeting EBV. EBV is a major driver
of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative diseases (PTLDs) and
responsible for a significant proportion of organ loss in solid
organ transplant patients, as well as a widely suspected driver of
Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The groundbraking findings reported in
Science point at IDO-1 inhibition as a potential treatment
mechanism for pathologies related to EBV latency.
The use of Hornet’s proprietary,
clinically-validated IDO-1 inhibitor, HTX-201, has already
demonstrated significant impact on latency, tumorigenesis, tumour
burden, and survival in an experimental mouse model of EBV-driven
PTLD.
The Company aims to first develop HTX-201 for
the prevention of EBV driven PTLD, where in high-risk solid organ
transplant recipients this dangerous complication develops in up to
30% of patients, and the fear of emergence of EBV-driven pathology
is ever-present across all transplant populations. By intervening
early with HTX-201, Hornet is looking to simplify the management of
transplant recipients in the first year post-transplant, when the
risk for PTLD and graft loss is highest. With around 80,000 solid
organ transplantations in Europe and the US each year, there is a
significant unmet need, which Hornet is seeking to address. 1,2
Based on the data now published in Science and
with access to the clinically tested drug HTX-201, Hornet is poised
to progress into phase 1/2 proof-of-concept clinical trials in
solid transplant populations within the next 12-18 months. In the
future, the Company intends to also target other conditions where
EBV is implicated, such as MS, Infectious Mononucleosis and
long-COVID.
Hornet emerges out of stealth with a strategic
collaboration and licensing agreement with Kyowa Kirin, enabling
Hornet Therapeutics to develop and commercialise HTX-201 (formerly
known as KHK2455) in EBV-related diseases.
The Company has an experienced team of experts
in antiviral discovery and commercialisation, led by Dr Fraser Gray
(formerly Vice President, Infectious Diseases, Worldwide Business
Development at GlaxoSmithKline) and Professor Christoph Hess
(Professor of Medicine at the University of Basel and Director of
Experimental Medicine at the University of Cambridge).
Professor Christoph Hess, founder and
Chief Scientific Officer at Hornet Therapeutics added: “In
a landmark paper published 60 years ago, Drs. Epstein, Achong and
Barr first described EBV – and while we have since built a strong
molecular and cellular understanding of the EBV–host interaction,
and the propensity of the virus to cause malignancy and promote
autoimmunity, we unfortunately still lack an effective and specific
treatment for EBV-driven diseases. Our data demonstrate that
HTX-201 has the potential to hinder EBV latency in its primary host
cells, the B cells. If our findings translate to clinical benefit
it would be a huge step forward in this disease area.”
Dr Fraser Gray, Chief Executive Officer
at Hornet Therapeutics added: “The ability to intervene
early with this small molecule inhibitor in multiple settings,
including solid transplant populations, will have a significant
impact on many patients affected by EBV. We have an experienced
development team actively planning the proof-of-concept clinical
trials in transplant patients, where we think HTX-201 can address a
clear unmet need.”
Dmitry Kuzmin, Managing Partner at 4BIO
Capital and Chairman at Hornet Therapeutics, said: “The
potential for HTX-201 is significant, not only for transplant
patients but in multiple areas where EBV is implicated, such as MS
and long-COVID. We are pleased to unveil Hornet with the
publication of these groundbreaking data and look forward to
continuing to work with the Company as it begins proof-of-concept
clinical trials in solid organ transplant populations.”
1 European Directorate for the Quality of
Medicines and Healthcare - Transplant Newsletter - October 20232
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, US Dept of Health
and Human Services - January 2024
- Ends -
Contacts
Hornet Therapeutics |
+44 (0) 203 427 5500info@4biocapital.com |
|
|
ICR ConsiliumAmber Fennell, Jonathan Edwards, Kris
Lam |
+44 (0)20 3709 5700hornet@consilium-comms.com |
About Hornet Therapeutics
Hornet Therapeutics was founded by 4BIO Capital
and Professor Christoph Hess, based on breakthrough work from
Christoph Hess’s lab on translational aspects of lymphocyte
function and its metabolic basis. Whilst in incubation, the Company
has been establishing pioneering single gene-level precision
engineering of immune cell metabolism to induce or abolish specific
cellular states. Its lead asset, HTX-201, an IDO-1 inhibitor, was
in-licensed from Kyowa Kirin, and Hornet is looking to enter into
clinical trials to assess it as a possible treatment option for the
prevention of EBV implicated diseases, including PTLD. To learn
more visit, hornet-tx.com.
About 4BIO Capital
4BIO Capital (“4BIO”) is an international
venture capital firm focused on investing in advanced therapies,
including genomic medicines and other emerging technologies, to
unlock the treatments of the future. 4BIO’s objective is to invest
in, support, and grow early-stage companies developing treatments
in areas of high unmet medical need, with the ultimate goal of
ensuring access to these potentially curative therapies for all
patients. Specifically, it looks for viable, high-quality
opportunities in cell and gene therapy, RNA-based therapy, targeted
therapies, and the microbiome. The 4BIO team comprises leading
advanced therapy scientists and experienced life science investors
who have collectively published over 250 scientific articles in
prestigious academic journals including Nature, The Lancet, Cell,
and the New England Journal of Medicine. 4BIO has both an
unrivalled network within the advanced therapy sector and a unique
understanding of the criteria that define a successful investment
opportunity in this space. For more information, connect with us on
LinkedIn and Twitter @4biocapital and visit
www.4biocapital.com.
About the Epstein-Barr virus
(EBV)
EBV is an oncogenic gamma-herpes virus that
infects more than 90% of the adult population worldwide. Upon
infection of its host cells (B cells), EBV drives a process
referred to as transformation, which is characterized by a growth
program leading to continuous cell proliferation and the
establishment of life-long latency. During the pre-latent phase of
infection, the viral master regulator EBNA2 orchestrates cell
activation and cell cycle entry, thereby critically contributing to
long-term persistence of the virus.
About PTLD
The post-transplant lymphoproliferative
disorders (PTLDs) are a group of potentially life-threatening
conditions that affect patients who have had an organ or bone
marrow transplant. PTLD occurs because the immune system of these
patients is suppressed. The weakened immune system is not effective
at controlling certain viruses, including EBV. Unchecked EBV has
the capacity to drive proliferation and malignant growth of its
host cells.