Data demonstrated in vitro and in vivo ITK inhibition with soquelitinib induced switching of proinflammatory Th₁₇ cells into anti-inflammatory T_reg cells

Publication confirms and extends understanding of ITK inhibition mechanism of action and its potential in inflammatory autoimmune and allergic diseases

Data published by leading researchers from Cornell University in peer-reviewed journal Science Signaling

BURLINGAME, Calif., July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Corvus or the Company) (Nasdaq: CRVS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced data published by leading researchers from Cornell University (Cornell) in Science Signaling, a peer-reviewed journal, that further corroborates Corvus’ views of the potential of ITK inhibition as a novel approach to treating inflammatory diseases. Researchers at Cornell utilized soquelitinib (formerly CPI-818), the Company’s selective ITK inhibitor, to demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that ITK inhibition induces switching of proinflammatory Th₁₇ cells into anti-inflammatory T_reg suppressor cells. The article states “The findings of this study provide greater insight into how ITK controls the Th₁₇ and T_reg dichotomy, and these findings could have broader implications for immune disorders with an imbalance of Th₁₇ and T_reg.”

“The results published by the August Lab at Cornell University expands upon our knowledge of the mechanism of action of ITK inhibition in immunology. The results confirm the broad potential for ITK inhibition to treat a range of indications,” said James Rosenbaum, M.D., senior vice president of research at Corvus. “Importantly, their data demonstrated that the mechanism has a dual-effect, decreasing inflammatory Th₁₇ cells by converting them into anti-inflammatory T_reg cells. This conversion is highly relevant for autoimmune, allergic and inflammatory diseases. This was elegantly demonstrated in an in vivo asthma model of allergic airway inflammation in which treatment with soquelitinib reduced inflammation by increasing the ratio of T_reg to Th₁₇ cells in the lungs.”

The article titled “The kinase ITK controls a Ca²⁺-mediated switch that balances Th₁₇ and T_reg cell differentiation” was published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Signaling and is available for viewing at DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adh2381. The senior author is Avery August, Ph.D., Professor of Immunology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. August’s research group focuses on the tyrosine kinases in the regulation of the immune response and the role of intracellular signaling in regulating T cell differentiation and cytokine production, particularly inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Key results from the third-party preclinical studies described in the article demonstrated that soquelitinib had the following observed effects in vitro and in in vivo models of inflammatory disease:

• ITK controls the switch between Th₁₇ and Foxp3+ T_reg cells
• In in vitro experiments, ITK inhibition with soquelitinib results in dose dependent inhibition of Th₁₇ cell differentiation along with an increase in Foxp3+ T_reg cells
• Switched Foxp3+ T_reg cells suppress naïve T cell proliferation and behave like true T_reg cells
• Soquelitinib treatment of mice with allergic (house dust mite) airway inflammation significantly reduced the percentage of Th₁₇ cells in the lung resulting in an increase in the ratio of T_reg to Th₁₇ cells

Corvus’ ITK inhibitors include soquelitinib, which was used in the preclinical studies described in the article, and several next-generation molecules that are being optimized [in preclinical studies] for use in a variety of inflammatory and immune disease indications. Soquelitinib is currently in clinical trials for oncology and immunology indications.

About Corvus Pharmaceuticals
Corvus Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of ITK inhibition as a new approach to immunotherapy for a broad range of cancer and immune diseases. The Company’s lead product candidate is soquelitinib, an investigational, oral, small molecule drug that selectively inhibits ITK. Its other clinical-stage candidates are being developed for a variety of cancer indications. For more information, visit www.corvuspharma.com.

About Soquelitinib
Soquelitinib (formerly CPI-818) is an investigational small molecule drug given orally designed to selectively inhibit ITK (interleukin-2-inducible T cell kinase), an enzyme that is expressed predominantly in T cells and plays a role in T cell and natural killer (NK) cell immune function. Based on interim results from a Phase 1/1b clinical trial in patients with refractory T cell lymphomas, which demonstrated tumor responses in very advanced, refractory, difficult to treat T cell malignancies, the Company plans to initiate a registrational Phase 3 clinical trial of soquelitinib in patients with relapsed PTCL. Soquelitinib also is now being investigated in a randomized placebo controlled phase 1 clinical trial in patients with atopic dermatitis. The immunologic effects of soquelitinib lead to what is known as Th₁ skewing and inhibition of Th₂ and Th₁₇ cells. Research on soquelitinib’s mechanism of action suggests that it has the potential to control differentiation of normal T helper cells and enhance immune responses to tumors by augmenting the generation of cytotoxic killer T cells and the production of cytokines that inhibit cancer cell survival. Soquelitinib has also been shown to prevent T cell exhaustion, a major limitation of current immunotherapy and CAR-T therapies. Soquelitinib has been shown to affect T cell differentiation and induce the generation of Th₁ helper cells while blocking the development of both Th₂ and Th₁₇ cells and production of their secreted cytokines. Th₁ T cells are required for immunity to tumors, viral infections and other infectious diseases. Th₂ and Th₁₇ helper T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune and allergic diseases. The Company believes the inhibition of specific molecular targets in T cells may be of therapeutic benefit for patients with cancers, including solid tumors, and in patients with autoimmune and allergic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to the potential efficacy of the Company’s product candidates including soquelitinib; and the broad potential of soquelitinib to treat a variety of indications. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “seek,” “will,” “may” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2024, as well as other documents that may be filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: the Company’s ability to demonstrate sufficient evidence of efficacy and safety in its clinical trials of soquelitinib and its other product candidates; the results of preclinical studies, including preclinical studies conducted by third-parties using the Company’s product candidates, and interim data from clinical trials not being predictive of future results; the Company’s ability to enroll sufficient numbers of patients in its clinical trials; the unpredictability of the regulatory process; regulatory developments in the United States, and other foreign countries; and the costs of clinical trials may exceed expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and the timing of events and circumstances and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Leiv Lea
Chief Financial Officer
Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
+1-650-900-4522
llea@corvuspharma.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sheryl Seapy
Real Chemistry
+1-949-903-4750
sseapy@realchemistry.com

Source: Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.