R1507 was selected from a large panel of antibodies and was found to be very good at binding to its target, the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). R1507 was shown to block binding of IGF-1 and IGF-2, and to potently inhibit IGF-1R signaling. In addition, R1507 was found to effectively stop tumor cell growth in different animal models. RI507 is currently in phase I clinical development.
The IGF-1R molecule has been shown to be important in tumor growth and protecting tumor cells from being killed. IGF-1R is over-expressed on a variety of tumors including breast, colon, prostate, lung, skin and pancreatic cancers.
Roche said that the data made R1507 a promising antibody for further evaluation in clinical trials and could be a new immunotherapeutic approach for treatment of cancers that over-express IGF-1R.
“This is the first data presented on one of the antibodies produced in our collaboration with Roche,” said Lisa Drakeman, CEO of Genmab.
Under the agreement with Roche, Genmab utilizes its antibody expertise and development capabilities to create human antibodies to a broad range of disease targets identified by Roche.