Genmab reports positive results of antitumor drug in preclinical studies

Preclinical studies characterized the exact HuMax-IL8 binding site on IL8, which overlaps with the docking site for the IL8 receptor, CXCR1. HuMax-IL8 was found to effectively block formation of new blood vessels induced by IL8 in an animal model. The antibody was also shown to affect tumor vascularization in different primary human tumors grown in immunocompromised mice. The antibody effectively suppressed tumor growth of primary sarcoma, melanoma and gastric tumors in immunocompromised mouse models.

HuMax-IL8 is a high affinity fully human IgG1,e antibody directed towards IL-8, which is a major mediator of inflammation and an important factor in angiogenesis.

Jan van de Winkel, chief scientific officer of Genmab, said: “These pre-clinical data illustrate that HuMax-IL8 effectively blocks IL8-induced formation of new blood vessels and affects tumor vascularization, both of which may well play a role in the potent anti-tumor effects induced by this antibody.”