NL-201, a De Novo Agonist of IL-2 and IL-15 Receptors, Demonstrates Synergistic Antitumor Activity with Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in a Preclinical Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Model

Abstract

NL-201 is a potent, selective, and long-acting computationally designed alpha-independent agonist of the IL-2 and IL-15 receptors that is being developed as an immunotherapy for cancer. NL-201 binds to the beta and gamma subunits, selectively stimulating dose-dependent expansion and tumor infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, thereby enhancing the immune response to the tumor. Absence of binding to the IL-2 alpha subunit reduces the undesirable effects of traditional IL-2 therapies, such as vascular leak syndrome and expansion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. In this abstract, we demonstrate that NL-201, alone or in combination, demonstrates robust antitumor activity in preclinical models of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We have previously demonstrated that NL-201 has marked antitumor activity in multiple syngeneic tumor models, including the A20 lymphoma model. These observations in lymphoma have been extended to explore the effects of NL-201 in combination with anti-mPD-1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy in vivo. In this model, NL-201 and anti-mPD-1 demonstrated tumor growth inhibition and increased median survival (21 days each vs 17 days as observed in control) when given alone. In combination, NL-201 and anti-mPD-1 resulted in increased antitumor activity and significant prolongation of survival (>51 days). We have also demonstrated that NL-201 does not directly induce signaling or cell death in B cell−derived NHL, suggesting that the observed antitumor activity is due to activation of non-malignant host immune cells. Additional in vitro and in vivo NHL models are being tested to enhance understanding of the interaction between NL-201 and other approved therapies within the hematopoietic tumor microenvironment. These data will be used to design future clinical trials of NL-201 in novel regimens to treat hematological malignancies. Disclosures Huard: Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Patents & Royalties. Tatalick: Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: Independent paid nonclinical consultant for Neoleukin. Walkey: Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Swanson: Neoleukin Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Patents & Royalties.