a stat3-selective targeted protein degrader decreases the … · 2020. 12. 4. · mcdonald, slavin,...

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A STAT3-Selective Targeted Protein Degrader Decreases The Immune-Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment And Drives Anti-Tumor Activity In Preclinical Models Fred Csibi , Bin Yang, Yogesh Chutake, Karen Yuan, Scott Rusin, Rahul Karnik, Veronica Campbell, Michele Mayo, Kirti Sharma, Haojing Rong, Henry Li, Sharon Townson, Hari Kamadurai, Mike Sintchak, Christine Loh, Alice McDonald, Anthony Slavin, Chris De Savi, Jared Gollob, Duncan Walker, Phillip Liu, Nan Ji and Nello Mainolfi. Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139. Contact: [email protected] Introduction Conclusions Disclosures: Csibi, Yang, Yuan, Mayo, Chutake, Rong, Rusin, Karnik, Sharma, Campbell, Li, Townson, Kamadurai, Sintchak, McDonald, Slavin, De Savi, Liu, Gollob, Walker, Ji, Mainolfi. Kymera Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Figure 2- STAT3 Integrates Multiple Upstream Signaling Events To Regulate Tumor Intrinsic and Extrinsic Functions in The TME LB-088 Figure 1 - Overview of Targeted Protein Degradation BROAD OPPORTUNITY ONLY BINDING SITE REQUIRED EFFICIENT CATALYTIC PROLONGED IMPACT TARGET PROTEIN DEGRADATION HITCHING A RIDE UPS INTACT & FUNCTIONAL Figure 3- KTX-201 Is a Potent and Selective STAT3 Degrader in Human Immune Cells Figure 5- STAT3 Degradation Reverses Immuno-Suppression in a Co-Culture Model of the Tumor Microenvironment in NSCLC Figure 6- STAT3 Degrader Enhances Anti-Tumor Immunity in CT26 Colorectal Tumors Figure 4- STAT3 Degradation Downregulates Genes Involved with Immune Suppression in Both Immune and Tumor Cells STAT3 is a transcription factor downstream of several signaling events including the IL- 6/JAK pathway that has been implicated in multiple aspects of tumorigenesis. In addition to increasing cancer cell proliferation and survival, constitutively activated STAT3 is proposed to regulate cross-talk interactions between tumor, stroma and immune cells to promote immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment (TME). STAT3 activity in tumors promotes the production of immune-suppressive factors that activate STAT3 in diverse immune-cell subsets. Mechanistically, genetic studies support a direct role of activated STAT3 in regulating myeloid cell differentiation to contribute to an immuno-suppressed TME. STAT3 is therefore a highly attractive target for immuno-oncology. However, potent and selective agents that specifically and directly target STAT3 have remained elusive. Kymera Therapeutics is developing degraders of STAT3 with drug-like properties, represented here with KTX-201 and its related compound KTX-104. These compounds potently and selectively degrade STAT3 protein and reverse immuno-suppression in preclinical models. Hyperactivation of STAT3 promotes tumor-intrinsic gene expression programs involved with survival, proliferation, stemness and metastasis of tumor cells. Additionally, STAT3 promotes the differentiation and activity of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. STAT3 activation in endothelial cells contributes to angiogenesis. STAT3 Degrader [KTX-201] 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 KTX-201 (nM) STAT3 levels (%control) Lymphocytes Monocytes Fig.3A- Degradation of STAT3 in immune cells PBMCs, flow cytometry, 24hr Immune cells STAT3 DC 50 (nM) STAT3 DC 90 (nM) Monocytes 0.15 1.25 Lymphocytes 5.4 14 KTX-201 (10X Lymphocyte DC 90 ) / DMSO Average pval=0.05 Fig. 3B- Selectivity in PBMCs Deep Tandem Mass Tag Proteomics, 8hr (>10,000 proteins monitored) -log 10 pvalue 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 KTX-201 (nM) STAT3 levels (%control) Pd-l1 mRNA (%control) Pd-l1 mRNA (RT-qPCR, 24hr) STAT3 levels (MSD, 24hr) Fig. 4B- STAT3 degradation downregulates Pd-l1 mRNA in lymphoma (ALK+ ALCL) Cell line STAT3, DC 50 (nM) Pd-l1 mRNA IC 50 (nM) SU-DHL-1 11.7 14.3 SUP-M2 16.3 19.8 Fig. 4A- STAT3 degradation inhibits IL-6-dependent gene expression changes in human PBMCs (Nanostring analysis) KTX-201 decreases genes involved with immunosuppressive myeloid cells (e.g., CD163, a M2 macrophage marker) and changes in cytokine signaling (e.g, decrease in IL-10 and IL-17A and increase in TNF) as well as genes involved with survival and proliferation (e.g., decrease in Myc) Single Cells (FSC-A vs FSC-H) Live-Dead vs SSC-A CD45 CD4 vs CD8 (CD3 Gated) M1 vs M2 Macrophages (CD11b, F4/80, CD206, IA/IE Gated) Fig. 6B- Strategy for Pharmacodynamic Immunophenotyping KTX-201, 25mg/kg, 3 doses every 2 days. Tumor collection 24hr post last dose Kymera has developed potent and highly selective STAT3 degraders with activity in immune and tumor cells. STAT3 degradation inhibited IL-6-induced changes in gene expression involved with myeloid cell markers and cytokine signaling in immune cells and downregulated Pd-l1 mRNA in tumor cells. These results indicate that degrading STAT3 has the potential to reverse immune suppression by modulating the composition and activity of immune cells in the TME and directly downregulating immune checkpoint signals in tumor cells. Kymera is advancing STAT3 degraders to clinical development in both liquid and solid tumors. STAT3 degrader increases production of anti-tumoral factors IL-2, IFNg, and TNFa and reduces production of pro-tumoral factors VEGF and IL-6 Fig. 5C- STAT3 degrader reverses immuno-suppression with a profile distinct from JAK inhibitor KTX-104 Tofacitinib M1 M2 0 20 40 60 80 100 % Population Macrophages (M1/M2) CD4+ CD8+ 0 20 40 60 80 % Population T Cells (CD4/CD8) TILs 0 10 20 30 % Population Tumor Infiltrating Leukocytes (CD45+) Fig. 6C- STAT3 degrader increases anti-tumor (M1, CD8) and decreases immuno-suppressive (M2) infiltrates 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 KTX-104 (nM) STAT3 levels (%control) Growth Inhibition (%control) Growth Inhibition (CTG, 4 days) STAT3 levels (WB, 24hr) Fig. 5B- STAT3 degraders decreases STAT3 in H1299 cells without affecting cell growth STAT3 DC 50 = 30nM Human PBMCs (2 donors) KTX-201, 400nM pre-treatment 18hr IL-6 10ng/mL, 1 and 6hr STAT3 Alexa Fluor TM 647 staining: Lymphocytes: CD8/CD4/CD19/CD56 (T/B/NK cells) Monocytes: CD14 Fig. 5A- Co-culture model of human TME BioMAP® NSCLC Oncology System (Eurofins Discovery) Cytokine signaling Immune markers Survival/proliferation Log2-fold change KTX-201 vs DMSO IL-6: 1hr 6hr IL-6: 1hr 6hr IL-6: 1hr 6hr 0 5 10 15 20 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Days Tumor Volume (mm 3 ) mean, SEM 0 5 10 15 20 0 10 20 30 40 Days Body Weight (g) Mean, SEM Fig. 6A- STAT3 degraders shows anti-tumor activity at well tolerated doses in the syngeneic CT26 model Tumor volume Body weight In vitro CT26 DC 50 (WB) at 24h = 14 nM 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 KTX-201 (nM) STAT3 levels (%control) Pd-l1 mRNA (%control) Pd-l1 mRNA (RT-qPCR, 24hr) STAT3 levels (MSD, 24hr) SU-DHL-1 cells SUP-M2 cells KTX-201 decreases the levels of Pd-l1 gene consistent with a robust degradation of STAT3 in Anaplastic Large T Cell Lymphoma cells

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  • TherapeuticsConfidential1 TherapeuticsConfidential1

    A STAT3-Selective Targeted Protein Degrader Decreases The Immune-Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment And Drives Anti-Tumor Activity In Preclinical Models

    Fred Csibi, Bin Yang, Yogesh Chutake, Karen Yuan, Scott Rusin, Rahul Karnik, Veronica Campbell, Michele Mayo, Kirti Sharma, Haojing Rong, Henry Li, Sharon Townson, Hari Kamadurai, Mike Sintchak, Christine Loh, Alice McDonald, Anthony Slavin, Chris De Savi, Jared Gollob, Duncan Walker, Phillip Liu, Nan Ji and Nello Mainolfi. Kymera Therapeutics, Inc. 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139. Contact: [email protected]

    Introduction

    Conclusions

    Disclosures: Csibi, Yang, Yuan, Mayo, Chutake, Rong, Rusin, Karnik, Sharma, Campbell, Li, Townson, Kamadurai, Sintchak, McDonald, Slavin, De Savi, Liu, Gollob, Walker, Ji, Mainolfi. Kymera Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership.

    Figure 2- STAT3 Integrates Multiple Upstream Signaling Events To Regulate Tumor Intrinsic and Extrinsic Functions in The TME

    LB-088

    Figure 1 - Overview of Targeted Protein Degradation

    BROAD OPPORTUNITYONLY BINDING SITE REQUIRED

    EFFICIENTCATALYTIC

    PROLONGED IMPACTTARGET PROTEIN DEGRADATION

    HITCHING A RIDEUPS INTACT & FUNCTIONAL

    Figure 3- KTX-201 Is a Potent and Selective STAT3 Degrader in Human Immune Cells Figure 5- STAT3 Degradation Reverses Immuno-Suppression in a Co-Culture Model of the Tumor Microenvironment in NSCLC

    Figure 6- STAT3 Degrader Enhances Anti-Tumor Immunity in CT26 Colorectal TumorsFigure 4- STAT3 Degradation Downregulates Genes Involved with Immune Suppression in Both Immune and Tumor Cells

    • STAT3 is a transcription factor downstream of several signaling events including the IL-6/JAK pathway that has been implicated in multiple aspects of tumorigenesis.

    • In addition to increasing cancer cell proliferation and survival, constitutively activatedSTAT3 is proposed to regulate cross-talk interactions between tumor, stroma andimmune cells to promote immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

    • STAT3 activity in tumors promotes the production of immune-suppressive factors thatactivate STAT3 in diverse immune-cell subsets. Mechanistically, genetic studies supporta direct role of activated STAT3 in regulating myeloid cell differentiation to contribute toan immuno-suppressed TME.

    • STAT3 is therefore a highly attractive target for immuno-oncology. However, potent andselective agents that specifically and directly target STAT3 have remained elusive.

    • Kymera Therapeutics is developing degraders of STAT3 with drug-like properties,represented here with KTX-201 and its related compound KTX-104. These compoundspotently and selectively degrade STAT3 protein and reverse immuno-suppression inpreclinical models.

    • Hyperactivation of STAT3 promotes tumor-intrinsic geneexpression programs involved with survival, proliferation,stemness and metastasis of tumor cells.

    • Additionally, STAT3 promotes the differentiation and activity ofimmunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment.

    • STAT3 activation in endothelial cells contributes toangiogenesis.

    STAT3Degrader

    [KTX-201]

    0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000-25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    KTX-201 (nM)

    ST

    AT

    3 levels

    (%co

    ntr

    ol)

    Lymphocytes

    Monocytes

    Fig.3A- Degradation of STAT3 in immune cellsPBMCs, flow cytometry, 24hr

    Immune cells STAT3 DC50 (nM) STAT3 DC90 (nM) Monocytes 0.15 1.25

    Lymphocytes 5.4 14 KTX-201 (10X Lymphocyte DC90) / DMSO Average

    pval=0.05

    Fig. 3B- Selectivity in PBMCsDeep Tandem Mass Tag Proteomics, 8hr

    (>10,000 proteins monitored)

    -log 1

    0 pv

    alue

    0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000-25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    150

    -25

    0

    25

    50

    75

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    125

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    KTX-201 (nM)

    ST

    AT

    3 levels

    (%co

    ntr

    ol)

    Pd

    -l1 m

    RN

    A(%

    co

    ntro

    l)

    Pd-l1 mRNA (RT-qPCR, 24hr)

    STAT3 levels (MSD, 24hr)

    Fig. 4B- STAT3 degradation downregulates Pd-l1 mRNA in lymphoma (ALK+ ALCL)

    Cell line STAT3, DC50 (nM) Pd-l1

    mRNA IC50 (nM)

    SU-DHL-1 11.7 14.3

    SUP-M2 16.3 19.8

    Fig. 4A- STAT3 degradation inhibits IL-6-dependent gene expression changes in human PBMCs(Nanostring analysis)

    • KTX-201 decreases genes involved with immunosuppressive myeloid cells (e.g., CD163, a M2 macrophage marker) and changes in cytokine signaling (e.g, decrease in IL-10 and IL-17A and increase in TNF) as well as genes involved with survival and proliferation (e.g., decrease in Myc)

    • Single Cells (FSC-A vs FSC-H)• Live-Dead vs SSC-A• CD45• CD4 vs CD8 (CD3 Gated)• M1 vs M2 Macrophages (CD11b, F4/80, CD206,

    IA/IE Gated)

    Fig. 6B- Strategy for Pharmacodynamic ImmunophenotypingKTX-201, 25mg/kg, 3 doses every 2 days. Tumor collection 24hr post last dose

    • Kymera has developed potent and highly selective STAT3 degraders with activity in immune andtumor cells.

    • STAT3 degradation inhibited IL-6-induced changes in gene expression involved with myeloid cellmarkers and cytokine signaling in immune cells and downregulated Pd-l1 mRNA in tumor cells.

    • These results indicate that degrading STAT3 has the potential to reverse immune suppression bymodulating the composition and activity of immune cells in the TME and directly downregulatingimmune checkpoint signals in tumor cells.

    • Kymera is advancing STAT3 degraders to clinical development in both liquid and solid tumors.

    STAT3 degrader increases production of anti-tumoral factors IL-2, IFNg, and TNFa and reduces production of pro-tumoral factors VEGF and IL-6

    Fig. 5C- STAT3 degrader reverses immuno-suppression with a profile distinct from JAK inhibitor

    KTX-104

    Tofacitinib

    M1 M20

    20

    40

    60

    80

    100

    % P

    op

    ula

    tio

    n

    Macrophages (M1/M2)

    CD4+ CD8+0

    20

    40

    60

    80

    % P

    op

    ula

    tio

    n

    T Cells (CD4/CD8)TILs

    0

    10

    20

    30

    % P

    op

    ula

    tio

    n

    Tumor Infiltrating Leukocytes (CD45+)

    Fig. 6C- STAT3 degrader increases anti-tumor (M1, CD8) and decreases immuno-suppressive (M2) infiltrates

    0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000-25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    -25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    KTX-104 (nM)

    ST

    AT

    3 levels

    (%co

    ntr

    ol)

    Gro

    wth

    Inh

    ibitio

    n(%

    co

    ntro

    l)

    Growth Inhibition (CTG, 4 days)

    STAT3 levels (WB, 24hr)

    Fig. 5B- STAT3 degraders decreases STAT3 in H1299 cells without affecting cell growth

    STAT3 DC50 = 30nM

    • Human PBMCs (2 donors)• KTX-201, 400nM pre-treatment 18hr• IL-6 10ng/mL, 1 and 6hr

    STAT3 Alexa FluorTM 647 staining:• Lymphocytes: CD8/CD4/CD19/CD56 (T/B/NK cells)• Monocytes: CD14

    Fig. 5A- Co-culture model of human TMEBioMAP® NSCLC Oncology System (Eurofins Discovery)

    Cytokine signalingImmune markers Survival/proliferationLog2-fold change KTX-201 vs DMSO

    IL-6: 1hr 6hrIL-6: 1hr 6hr

    IL-6: 1hr 6hr0 5 10 15 20

    0

    500

    1000

    1500

    2000

    2500

    3000

    3500

    Days

    Tu

    mo

    r V

    olu

    me (

    mm

    3)

    mean

    ,

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    M

    0 5 10 15 20

    0

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    20

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    40

    Days

    Bo

    dy W

    eig

    ht

    (g)

    Me

    an

    ,

    SE

    M

    Fig. 6A- STAT3 degraders shows anti-tumor activity at well tolerated doses in the syngeneic CT26 model

    Tumor volume Body weightIn vitro CT26 DC50 (WB) at 24h = 14 nM

    0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000-25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    150

    -25

    0

    25

    50

    75

    100

    125

    150

    KTX-201 (nM)

    ST

    AT

    3 levels

    (%co

    ntr

    ol)

    Pd

    -l1 m

    RN

    A(%

    co

    ntro

    l)

    Pd-l1 mRNA (RT-qPCR, 24hr)

    STAT3 levels (MSD, 24hr)

    SU-DHL-1 cells SUP-M2 cells

    • KTX-201 decreases the levels of Pd-l1 gene consistent with a robust degradation of STAT3 in Anaplastic Large T Cell Lymphoma cells