Aptevo highlights preclinical prostate cancer therapy candidate

Aptevo Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: APVO) announced details about its preclinical drug candidate APVO442, a CD3-engaging bispecific antibody designed to treat prostate cancer. The Seattle-based biotechnology company said the therapy is built on its ADAPTIR-FLEX platform technology.

APVO442 uses the same CRIS-7-derived anti-CD3 binding domain as the company's clinical candidate mipletamig, which is being tested for acute myeloid leukemia. The prostate cancer candidate is engineered with lower binding affinity and a monovalent format intended to reduce immune activation outside tumors, according to the company.

The therapy targets PSMA-expressing prostate tumors and is designed to activate T cells within the tumor microenvironment. Preclinical data show APVO442 localizes to PSMA-expressing prostate tumors, the company stated.

"APVO442 is engineered for the same balance-potent immune activation precisely where it's needed - in the tumor," said Marvin White, President and CEO of Aptevo. "It represents yet another high-conviction opportunity to expand into solid tumors, a market where the need is large and growing."

Aptevo noted that prostate cancer affects over 300,000 new cases annually in the U.S., citing American Cancer Society data. The company said the global treatment market is valued at $14 billion and projected to reach $24 billion within the next decade, referencing Global Data.

The company has applied the same solid tumor-optimized architecture to another pipeline candidate, APVO455. APVO442 remains in preclinical studies as part of Aptevo's goal to expand its clinical pipeline.

Aptevo currently has two clinical candidates: mipletamig for acute myeloid leukemia and ALG.APV-527 for solid tumors. The information was provided in a company press release.

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