Bergen, Norway, February 7, 2024, - BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for
severe unmet medical needs, today announced that Dr. Mirella Spalluto of the
University of Southampton today presented "Investigating the effects of AXL
inhibition during respiratory viral infections" during the 6th Forum on
Respiratory Infections in Glasgow, Scotland.
The data presented by Dr. Spalluto showed bemcentinib had activity in human in
vitro models of infection caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), influenza
and rhinovirus. In these models, bemcentinib downregulated IL-6 and IL-8, two
important inflammatory cytokines associated with the severity of hospitalized
respiratory infections.
Clinically, patients with viral respiratory infections can develop acute
respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening condition. In ARDS
patients, cytokines - a type of inflammatory protein - are released bringing
neutrophils to the lung to fight infection. These proteins, however, can leak
into blood vessels, traveling through the body resulting in inflammation of
other organs which may lead to organ failure.
Cristina Oliva, MD, Chief Medical Officer at BerGenBio commented on the
relevance of these new data: "The findings of cytokine down-regulation in
preclinical models align with samples from patients treated with bemcentinib in
previous clinical studies of hospitalized COVID-19. These data indicate that
bemcentinib may be a helpful addition to supportive care in patients with ARDS
resulting from a variety of common viral infections. The need for new
therapeutics in this patient population is acute, with the morality rate from
viral ARDS estimated at between 27-45%. We look forward to conducting
additional preclinical evaluation of bemcentinib's activity in severe
respiratory infections to further bolster our understanding in this important
area."
Contacts
Martin Olin CEO, BerGenBio ASA
ir@bergenbio.com
Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA
rune.skeie@bergenbio.com
Investor Relations / Media Relations
Jan Lilleby
jl@lillebyfrisch.no
About Bemcentinib
Bemcentinib is a potentially first-in-class, potent and highly selective
inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase AXL. Extensive studies confirm the ability to
combine bemcentinib with immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapies and
targeted therapies with the goal of improving a patient's immune response and
delaying the development of chemoresistance. Bemcentinib is currently being
investigated in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition and chemotherapy
in first line NSCLC patients harboring mutations in the STK11 gene, a known
prognostic factor of poor response to existing therapies.
About BerGenBio ASA
BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for
aggressive diseases, including cancer and severe respiratory infections. The
Company is focused on its proprietary lead candidate, bemcentinib, a potentially
first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in development for STK11 mutated NSCLC
and severe respiratory infections.
BerGenBio is based in Bergen, Norway with a subsidiary in Oxford, UK. The
company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO). For more
information, visitwww.bergenbio.com
Forward looking statements
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not
historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are
based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently
subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important
factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations
expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements.
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.