Bayer AG (ETR: BAYN), a multinational pharmaceutical giant based in Germany, has received clinical trial approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its Category 1 drug BAY 3375968. This novel Fc optimized anti-CCR8 antibody is currently the subject of a Phase I clinical study globally. BAY 3375968 has the potential to bind to the CCR8 protein on the surface of Tregs, leading to a reduction in regulatory T cells and inhibiting their immunosuppressive activity, thereby enhancing the immune response against cancer.
The drug candidate is particularly relevant as it addresses the mechanism by which Tregs suppress CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment, which can promote tumor progression and reduce the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. While the depletion of Tregs throughout the body can enhance anti-tumor immunity, it may also trigger adverse autoimmune reactions. Therefore, there is a significant need for therapeutic drugs that selectively target Tregs within the tumor microenvironment without affecting peripheral Tregs.- Flcube.com
