Companies To Watch: Priothera

By Wayne Koberstein, Executive Editor, Life Science Leader
Follow Me On Twitter @WayneKoberstein

Now bent on boosting the safety and effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood cancers

SNAPSHOT

Priothera is another entry in the new space opening up for a biopharma revolution in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Priothera is developing a synthetic S1P receptor (S1PR) modulator that leverages a mode of action that has been successful in several autoimmune indications, but never in the oncology- hematology arena. Priothera’s lead candidate, mocravimod, is a non-immunosuppressive modulator of S1P (sphingosine-1-phosphate) receptors that guide the movement and behavior of T cells during immune responses. The drug appears to improve destruction of blood cancer cells, reduce peripheral tissue damage, and avoid rejection of transplanted T cells in HSCT due to graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Mocravimod sequesters donor (allo) T cells in the bone marrow and lymph nodes, extending their ability to kill cancer cells, while avoiding GvHD. In mid- 2022, mocravimod will enter a pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and future plans include trials of the drug combined with CAR-T therapies and in other hematological malignancies.