Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA) announced a collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics to support a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating KUP-101, an investigational immunotherapy candidate, according to a press release from the company.

Under the agreement, Natera's Latitude tissue-free assay for molecular residual disease (MRD) detection will be used to monitor treatment response by assessing serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics. The trial will enroll patients with advanced tumors across multiple skin cancer types, with Latitude MRD testing conducted at multiple timepoints during treatment.

The trial is being conducted at oncology centers in Germany. Kupando's safety committee has approved continued patient enrollment following the dosing of the first patient.

KUP-101 is designed to activate the innate immune system and induce trained immunity. Kupando describes the candidate as having potential as a tissue-agnostic treatment across multiple solid tumor types, both as a standalone therapy and in combination with other agents.

Johanna Holldack, M.D., founder and chief executive officer of Kupando Therapeutics, said the company believes "Natera's Latitude test can provide valuable insights into treatment response dynamics, helping us better understand the molecular activity of this novel therapeutic approach."

Eric Matthews, general manager of biopharma at Natera, said Latitude's capabilities make it suited to evaluate ctDNA dynamics across diverse solid tumor types.