Purple Biotech Ltd. (NASDAQ: PPBT) announced preclinical data for IM1240, its tri-specific antibody designed to treat cancer by targeting tumor cells while engaging immune cells.

The data, generated at the Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, showed that all seven patient-derived tumor samples tested responded to IM1240 treatment. The samples included treatment-resistant cancers from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma metastatic lymph nodes and muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Dr. Amir Horowitz, who conducted the research, stated that the data demonstrated the contribution of IM1240's NKG2A component. A variant with a mutated NKG2A-binding domain lost apoptotic activity across all samples, according to the company.

The treatment induced immune cell reorganization in non-small cell lung cancer patient samples, including formation of tertiary lymphoid structures associated with anti-tumor immunity. The company reported increased CD8 T cells and NK cells, along with reduced regulatory T cells and tumor cells.

IM1240 is part of Purple Biotech's CAPTN-3 platform, which uses masked tri-specific antibodies that target tumor-associated antigens while engaging T cells and NK cells. The capping technology masks the CD3-binding arm in circulation and activates it at tumor sites.

The Israel-based clinical-stage company is developing the platform to maximize anti-cancer efficacy while minimizing toxicity. IM1240 targets the 5T4 antigen, while a second candidate, IM1305, targets TROP2.

Purple Biotech's pipeline includes other clinical-stage assets: CM24, a CEACAM1-blocking antibody that completed a Phase 2 study for pancreatic cancer treatment, and NT219, a dual inhibitor in Phase 2 trials for head and neck cancer.