Coya Therapeutics Expands IP Portfolio with License for Novel Combination Therapy
Coya Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech company, has expanded its intellectual property portfolio by securing a license from UNeMed Corporation. The license grants Coya the rights to a novel combination therapy using their proprietary low dose interleukin-2 (ld IL-2) and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF), which could have significant implications for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
The licensed combination therapy has shown promising results in preclinical studies, demonstrating a synergistic effect in increasing regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers and function. Tregs play a crucial role in maintaining immune balance and preventing excessive inflammation, which is implicated in various diseases. By adding GM-CSF to Coya’s ld IL-2, Treg numbers in animal models increased by 4-6 fold, suggesting a robust enhancement of the immune system’s regulatory capabilities.
Expanding Therapeutic Pipeline and Potential Treatment Options
This development comes at a time when Coya is already working on their lead therapeutic candidate, COYA 302, for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). COYA 302 combines COYA 301 with CTLA-4 Ig, and preliminary clinical results have shown that it is well-tolerated, with patients exhibiting stable disease progression and improved Treg function during a 48-week treatment period.
In addition to diversifying Coya’s therapeutic pipeline, the licensing agreement also opens up potential partnerships and treatment options for various neurodegenerative and autoimmune conditions. UNeMed will receive milestone payments and royalties on net sales as part of the deal.
Optimism for Immune Modulation and Patient Benefits
Dr. Arun Swaminathan, Chief Business Officer at Coya, expressed optimism about the potential of COYA 301 as a “backbone drug” in combination therapies designed to modulate the immune system. UNeMed’s President and CEO, Michael Dixon, Ph.D., echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the potential benefit to patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
It is important to note that both COYA 301 and the newly licensed combination therapy are investigational products and have not yet received approval from the FDA or any other regulatory body. However, Coya’s commitment to enhancing Treg function highlights their broader strategy to address systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation, which are common factors in a range of debilitating diseases.
A Significant Step Forward for Innovative Therapies
Overall, this licensing agreement represents a significant step forward for Coya Therapeutics and their efforts to develop innovative therapies for inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune conditions.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Coya Therapeutics has secured a license for a novel combination therapy using low dose interleukin-2 (ld IL-2) and Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF) for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. The therapy has shown promising results in preclinical studies by increasing regulatory T cell numbers and function. This expands Coya’s therapeutic pipeline and opens up potential partnerships. However, it is important to note that the products are investigational and have not yet received approval from regulatory bodies.
