SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: KZR), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders, today announced six presentations during four upcoming medical and scientific conferences.
“The growing body of data around KZR-616, our first-in-class selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, support its unique and powerful immunomodulatory mechanism to tackle severe immune-mediated diseases where treatment options are limited,” said Noreen Henig, MD, Kezar’s Chief Medical Officer.
“We’re thrilled to highlight our Protein Secretion Drug Discovery program as a novel way to target immune checkpoints in oncology and cytokine pathways in inflammatory disorders,” said Christopher Kirk, PhD, Kezar’s President and Chief Scientific Officer. “Our novel compounds highlight the potential of targeting the protein secretion pathway and the Sec61 translocon, as a means to induce inhibition of multiple therapeutically relevant targets.”
Following is an overview of Kezar’s upcoming scientific and clinical presentations, which will also be made available on the company’s website:
The American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2020
Dr. Samir Parikh will present accumulated interim results of the MISSION Phase 1b study of KZR-616 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with or without nephritis in a poster presentation. In an oral abstract presentation, Kezar will share preclinical data further illustrating the mechanism of action and broad immunomodulatory potential of KZR-616 in lupus nephritis.
Title: Treatment of SLE with or without nephritis with the Immunoproteasome Inhibitor KZR-616: Initial Results of the MISSION Study
Abstract N°: PO1913 (e-poster presentation)
Presenters: Samir Parikh, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Session: Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials - 3
Date and Time: October 22, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
Title: KZR-616, A Selective Inhibitor of the Immunoproteasome: Preclinical and Clinical Mechanism of Action Studies in Lupus Nephritis
Abstract N°: FR-OR38
Presenter: Tony Muchamuel, MS, Director of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kezar Life Sciences
Session: Glomerular Diseases: Charting New Territory [OR1202]
Date and Time: October 23, 2020, 5:00 – 7:00pm ET
8th Annual Meeting of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society (Cytokines 2020)
Kezar’s presentation will focus on the potential use of narrow-spectrum inhibitors of Sec61 for attenuation of the secretion of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo, with limited cytotoxicity.
Title: Blockade of Cytokine Production and Attenuation of Experimental Arthritis Progression by Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors of Sec61-Dependent Protein Secretion
Session: Lightning Talk Session 2: Autoinflammation and autoimmunity
Presenter: Janet L. Anderl, MS, Senior Scientist, Kezar Life Sciences
Date: November 2, 2020, 6:15 – 8:15 pm ET
American College of Rheumatology’s Convergence 2020
Dr. Richard Furie will present updated interim results of the MISSION Phase 1b study of KZR-616 in SLE patients with and without nephritis in a poster session. Additionally, Marta Del Rio Olivia will give an oral presentation featuring preclinical data on the mechanism of KZR-616 in a murine model of polymyositis.
Title: Treatment of SLE with or without Nephritis with the Immunoproteasome Inhibitor KZR-616: Updated Results of the MISSION Study
Abstract N°: 0855
Session: SLE – Treatment Poster I
Presenter: Richard Furie, M.D., Chief of the Division of Rheumatology at Northwell Health
Date: November 7, 2020, 9:00 – 11:00 am ET
Title: KZR-616, a First-in-class Selective Inhibitor of the Immunoproteasome, Ameliorates Polymyositis in a Murine Model
Abstract N°: 1916
Session: Systemic Sclerosis & Related Disorders – Basic Science Poster
Presenter: Marta Del Rio Oliva, Ph.D. candidate, Clinical Immunology, University of Konstanz
Date: November 9, 2020 at 9:00 – 11:00 am ET
The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer’s Annual Meeting
Kezar Life Sciences will present a scientific poster demonstrating that Sec61 inhibitors can block the expression of CD47, a phagocytosis checkpoint protein, on tumor cells and subsequently modulate macrophage phagocytic activity.
Title: Small molecule inhibitors of Sec61 co-translational translocation regulate the phagocytosis checkpoint molecule CD47
Abstract N°: 207
Session: Checkpoint Blockcade Therapy - poster session
Presenter: Jennifer Whang, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Kezar Life Sciences
Date: November 11, 5:15 – 5:45pm ET; November 13, 4:40-5:10pm ET
About KZR-616
KZR-616 is a novel, first-in-class, selective immunoproteasome inhibitor with broad therapeutic potential across multiple autoimmune diseases. Preclinical research demonstrates that selective immunoproteasome inhibition results in a broad anti-inflammatory response in animal models of several autoimmune diseases, while avoiding immunosuppression. Data generated from Phase 1a and 1b trials provide evidence that KZR-616 exhibits a favorable safety and tolerability profile for development in severe, chronic autoimmune diseases. Phase 2 trials are underway in severe autoimmune diseases.
About KZR-261
KZR-261, a novel, first-in-class protein secretion inhibitor, is the first clinical candidate to be nominated from Kezar’s research and discovery efforts targeting protein secretion pathways. KZR-261 is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor agent that acts through direct interaction and inhibition of Sec61 activity. The compound was discovered at Kezar through a robust medicinal chemistry campaign in which several scaffolds were progressed through the company’s proprietary platform evaluating Sec61 modulation. As a result, Kezar has established a broad library of protein secretion inhibitors. KZR-261 has demonstrated several encouraging properties that lead to its potential to be an anti-cancer agent for the treatment of solid and hematologic malignancies. IND-enabling activities are currently underway, and an IND submission in solid tumors is expected to be filed in the first quarter of 2021.
About Kezar Life Sciences
Based in South San Francisco, Kezar Life Sciences is combining courage, conviction and cutting-edge science to develop breakthrough treatments for immune-mediated and oncologic disorders. The company is pioneering first-in-class, small-molecule therapies that harness master regulators of cellular function and inhibit multiple drivers of disease via a single target. KZR-616, a first-in-class selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, is being evaluated in severe and underserved autoimmune diseases. Additionally, KZR-261, the first clinical candidate for the treatment of cancer from the company's protein secretion program targeting the Sec61 translocon, is undergoing IND-enabling activities.
