SON-1210: IL12-FHAB-IL15

Advancing as Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

SON-1210 is an immunotherapeutic bifunctional drug candidate that links unmodified single-chain human IL-12 and human IL-15 with the albumin-binding domain of the single-chain antibody fragment F_HAB separating the two cytokines with linkers to avoid steric hindrance. The F_HAB single chain was selected to bind well at normal pH, as well as at an acidic pH that is typically found in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The F_HAB technology targets tumor and lymphatic tissue, providing a mechanism for dose-sparing, enhanced PK, and an opportunity to improve the safety and efficacy profile of not only IL-12 and IL-15, but a variety of other potent immunomodulators using the platform. We believe these dual-targeting cytokines can orchestrate a robust immune response to many cancers and pathogens, particularly when presented together on the same molecule. Given the types of proteins induced in the TME, such as Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC), several types of cancer such as non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, sarcoma, and some gynecological cancers are particularly relevant for this approach. SON-1210 is designed to deliver IL-12 and IL-15 to local tumor tissue, with the intention of turning ‘cold' tumors ‘hot' by stimulating IFNγ, which activates both innate and adaptive immune cells in the TME, as well as increasing the production of Programed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells.

Collaboration with Sarcoma Oncology Center to Commence and Fund Investigator-Initiated Phase 1/2a Study

“We know this is a validated mechanism for enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity and there are no immunotherapies approved for pancreatic cancer. SON-1210's dual IL-12, IL-15 approach builds upon the success of SON-1010 in extending the cytokine half-life and turning cold tumors hot, which is being studied at our center as well.”

-Dr. Sant Chawla, Director of the Sarcoma Oncology Center

Market Opportunity:

Highly aggressive and often fatal disease that originates in the pancreas, typically detected late due to vague or absent early symptoms, leading to challenging treatment and a low survival rate.

~66,440 people with pancreatic cancer¹
8% 5-year survival for diagnosis²
85% of cases have no targeted therapy option³
$2.3B market in 2023 and expected to grow to $7.4B in 2032⁴

_{Pancreatic cancer: Cancer of the pancreas. Cancer of the Pancreas | American Cancer Society. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer.html}
_{Cancer Stat Facts: Pancreatic Cancer. National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program. (n.d.). https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/pancreas.html}
_{Liu, J., Mroczek, M., (2023). Genetics, genomics and emerging molecular therapies of pancreatic cancer. Cancers, 15(3), 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030779}
_{Pancreatic cancer market size, share, and trends 2024 to 2034. Precedence Research. (n.d.). https://www.precedenceresearch.com/pancreatic-cancer-market}