Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. Provides Update on Global Cancer Immunotherapy Co-Development with Toray Industries, Inc.
MWN-AI** Summary
Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. has announced a significant update regarding its collaboration with Toray Industries, Inc., focusing on the development of cancer immunotherapy. The partnership, which targets Caprin-1—a novel cancer antigen identified by Toray—aims to harness Bolt's Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) technology to treat various solid tumors. Caprin-1 is notably expressed on the surfaces of most solid tumors while showing minimal presence on normal tissues, indicating its potential as a targeted therapy.
Through their Joint Development and License Agreement, Toray supplies its proprietary monoclonal antibody TRK-950, currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for gastric cancer. Bolt’s contribution includes its advanced linker-payloads, aimed at enhancing the targeting and efficacy of the treatment. The collaboration has deep historical roots, tracing back to Dr. Fumiyoshi Okano's work at Stanford University, where he co-developed the foundational ideas for both entities' technologies.
Dr. Ed Engleman, co-founder of Bolt, expressed the personal significance of this collaboration, highlighting the synergy between Toray’s commitment to innovative cancer treatments and Bolt’s technological advancements. Dr. Okano echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their shared goal to expedite improvements in cancer therapy.
The Boltbody™ platform is pivotal in leveraging the immune system to create a robust anti-cancer response, incorporating a tumor-targeting antibody and a proprietary immune stimulant to energize the immune microenvironment. This innovative approach aims to address the critical need for effective therapies for solid tumors that are often resistant to current treatments.
Both companies are excited about the future potential of their combined efforts in reshaping cancer immunotherapy and improving patient outcomes across various tumor types.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Bolt) has made significant strides in cancer immunotherapy through its collaboration with Toray Industries, Inc. (Toray), targeting the antigen Caprin-1, which is associated with multiple solid tumor types. This strategic partnership, rooted in a longstanding relationship between scientists at Stanford and reinforced by Toray’s commitment to “life innovation,” places Bolt on a strong trajectory to meet critical unmet needs in oncology.
The ongoing clinical work surrounding TRK-950, Toray’s monoclonal antibody targeting Caprin-1, is particularly noteworthy. As TRK-950 enters Phase 2 trials for gastric cancer, it validates the viability of Caprin-1 as a therapeutic target. The combined expertise of Bolt's Boltbody™ ISAC technology and Toray's proprietary antibodies positions this collaboration to enhance immune responses against solid tumors effectively.
For investors, Bolt’s focus on developing novel immunotherapies, such as its pipeline candidates BDC-3042 and BDC-4182, indicates a commitment to advancing innovative treatments. BDC-3042’s first-in-class macrophage activation mechanism and BDC-4182’s promising in vitro data suggest strong potential for commercialization and market impact.
Looking ahead, the ongoing clinical trials and the anticipated results can create positive momentum for Bolt's stock, particularly if the Caprin-1 targeting strategy demonstrates efficacy. Additionally, with the rising demand for targeted cancer therapies, Bolt is well-positioned within this growing market.
Investors should monitor the progression of clinical trials closely, as successful early results could catalyze stock growth and attract more institutional investment. Diversification strategies, given the volatility inherent in biotech stocks, should also be considered. Overall, Bolt Biotherapeutics presents an exciting opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on advancements in cancer immunotherapy.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
-- Targeting Unmet Needs for Treating Solid Tumors--
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc., announced today that the target of their worldwide co-development collaboration with Toray Industries, Inc. is Caprin-1, a novel cancer target discovered by Toray. The collaborators are developing a Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) targeting Caprin-1, which is applicable to multiple solid tumor types. Under the existing Joint Development and License Agreement, Toray supplies its proprietary antibodies targeting Caprin-1, such as the antibody TRK-950, and Bolt contributes proprietary linker-payloads from its Boltbody™ ISAC platform technology. Bolt plans to co-develop and jointly commercialize the resulting ISAC product candidate with Toray.
Caprin-1 is a tumor-specific antigen that is strongly expressed on the cell membrane surface of most solid tumors, with minimal expression on the surface of normal tissues. Caprin-1 has also been shown to contribute to tumor growth and metastases. Toray’s asset TRK-950 is a monoclonal antibody targeting Caprin-1 that is in Phase 2 development for Gastric cancer, providing validation for this antigen as a promising ISAC target.
The connection between Toray and Bolt relationship dates back to 2002, when Dr. Fumiyoshi Okano, Senior Director of Toray, worked to enhance cancer immunotherapy techniques in Professor Ed Engleman’s lab at Stanford University. After returning to Japan, Dr. Okano discovered the novel cancer therapeutic target Caprin-1 and created an anti Caprin-1 monoclonal antibody TRK-950. Toray later decided to collaborate with Bolt in order to maximize the potential of TRK-950 with the Boltbody ™ ISAC technology.
“On a personal note, it is gratifying to see a collaboration that has roots in my Stanford lab. I’ve been exchanging ideas with Dr. Okano for over 20 years and we have tremendous respect for each other. Bolt’s technology also came from my lab, and we are excited to combine Bolt’s technology with Toray’s proprietary antibodies such as TRK-950, which targets a novel tumor-specific antigen expressed on a high percentage of solid tumors,” stated Ed Engleman, M.D., Bolt co-founder and co-director of the Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Program at the Stanford Cancer Institute. “Toray’s commitment to research and technology development is inspiring, and the combination of these two technologies has great potential to provide significant benefit for patients with many different types of cancer who are not adequately managed with current therapies.”
“Working with my mentor Professor Engleman on this collaboration is a career highlight for me,” said Dr. Okano. “Bolt is taking the lead in ISAC development with their Boltbody™ ISAC technology platform. We are excited about our collaboration with Bolt exploring the complementary combination of our technologies. In recent years Toray has increasingly focused on “life innovation”, hastening improvements in medical technology and disease prevention. Our goal is to reduce the burden on medical professionals while helping people live longer, healthier lives. We have prioritized oncology as one of the important areas for Toray and are working to create industry-leading therapies that have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients. This collaboration is consistent with Toray’s mission to achieve a healthy society through development of innovative drugs.”
About the Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) Platform
Bolt Biotherapeutics’ Boltbody ™ ISAC platform harnesses the precision of antibodies with the power of the innate and adaptive immune system to reprogram the tumor microenvironment to generate a productive anti-cancer response. Each Boltbody ™ ISAC candidate comprises a tumor-targeting antibody, a non-cleavable linker, and a proprietary immune stimulant. The antibody is designed to target one or more markers on the surface of a tumor cell and the immune stimulant is designed to recruit and activate myeloid cells. Activated myeloid cells initiate a positive feedback loop by releasing cytokines and chemokines, chemical signals that attract other immune cells and lower the activation threshold for an immune response. This increases the population of activated immune system cells in the tumor microenvironment and promotes a robust immune response with the goal of generating durable therapeutic responses for patients with cancer.
About Toray’s Multi-cancer Antibody TRK-950
TRK-950 is a monoclonal antibody that binds to and attacks cancer cells by targeting Caprin-1, a novel cancer therapeutic target discovered by Toray. Caprin-1 is strongly expressed on the cell membrane surfaces of gastric cancer and most other solid tumors and far less so on the cell membrane surfaces of normal tissues. It is also highly expressed on the cell membrane surfaces of metastatic cancer cells and cancer stem cells, which cause cancers to metastasize and recur. Toray has worked on TRK-950 development to inhibit cancer cell growths and metastases and cancer recurrences while minimizing side effects for many solid tumors. TRK-950 began Phase 1 studies in the United States and France in 2017 and in Japan in 2022, and has been administered to more than 155 cancer patients. It has been observed that the combination of TRK-950 with anticancer drugs is more effective. The clinical trials were expanded to include South Korea in 2023, and a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with gastric cancer is currently ongoing.
About Toray Industries, Inc.
Toray is a leading global company in innovative technologies and advanced materials. Since its foundation in 1926, the Company has contributed to society through the creation of new value and addressed global challenges by delivering high value-added products including fibers and textiles, resins and films, and carbon fiber composite materials. It operates in 26 countries and regions with about 48,000 employees worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.toray.com .
About Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Bolt Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Bolt Biotherapeutics’ pipeline candidates are built on the Company’s deep expertise in myeloid biology and cancer drug development. The Company’s pipeline includes BDC-3042, a first-in-class agonist antibody that activates macrophages by targeting Dectin-2, and BDC-4182, a next-generation Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) clinical candidate targeting claudin 18.2. BDC-3042 is currently in a Phase 1 dose escalation trial that includes patients with any of seven different solid tumor types. BDC-4182 is supported by strong in vitro and in vivo data demonstrating potent anti-tumor activity, and activities are underway to support the initiation of clinical trials in 2025. Bolt Biotherapeutics is also developing multiple Boltbody™ ISACs in strategic collaborations with leading biopharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit https://www.boltbio.com/ .
Investor Relations and Media Contact:
Matthew DeYoung
Argot Partners
(212) 600-1902
boltbio@argotpartners.com
FAQ**
How does the collaboration between Bolt Biotherapeutics Inc. BOLT and Toray Industries enhance the therapeutic potential of the Boltbody™ ISAC platform when targeting Caprin-1 for solid tumors?
What specific unmet needs in solid tumor treatment does the Boltbody™ Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) aim to address through its mechanism of action?
Given that TRK-950 is in Phase 2 trials for gastric cancer, what are the anticipated milestones in the development timeline for Caprin-1-targeting therapies from Bolt Biotherapeutics Inc. BOLT and Toray?
How does Bolt Biotherapeutics Inc. BOLT plan to leverage its expertise in myeloid biology in the ongoing development of the ISAC product candidate targeting Caprin-1 to improve patient outcomes?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Bolt Biotherapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: BOLT).
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