NextCure Presents Preclinical Data on a Novel Therapeutic Candidate Targeting VSTM-1 for the Treatment of Progressive Inflammatory Airway Disorders
VSTM-1 is a cell-surface inhibitory receptor highly expressed on granulocytes, including neutrophils, and pulmonary monocytes that functions as a regulator of myeloid cell-driven inflammatory cascades. Inhibitory signaling is induced when VSTM-1 binds to ligands such as cathelicidin and S100 proteins. This immunosuppressive function, combined with the strong expression profile of VSTM-1 on pulmonary myeloid cells and the prominent role of neutrophils as inflammatory mediators of lung immunopathology, makes VSTM-1 a promising novel therapeutic target for COPD.
- The agonist antibody blocks neutrophil-mediated inflammation and cytokine production associated with tissue damage in vitro and ex vivo.
- Treatment with the agonist antibody reduces pulmonary pathology and prevents disease in animal models, including a highly relevant syngeneic mouse model engineered to express the human VSTM-1 protein.
“We have leveraged our immunology expertise and capabilities to continue expanding beyond oncology and into other diseases mediated by chronic inflammation. The VSTM-1 agonist mAb that we are advancing preclinically provides a differentiated approach with a unique mechanism to ameliorate pulmonary inflammation and the potential to treat and prevent chronic lung disease, including COPD,” said
Additional preclinical chronic models of inflammatory disease and relevant, mechanistically based combination studies in COPD and other indications are being planned.
The data were presented in a poster presentation at the 2024 Keystone Symposium for Inhibitory Receptors in Immune Homeostasis, Disease and Therapy:
Title: VSTM-1 Agonist mAb Therapy Reduces Granulocytic Inflammation and COPD
Abstract Number: 2022
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