Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that the target of their worldwide co-development collaboration with Toray Industries, Inc. is Caprin-1, a novel cancer target discovered by Toray. The collaborators are developing a Boltbody Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) targeting Caprin-1, which is applicable to multiple solid tumor types. Under the existing Joint Development and License Agreement, Toray supplies its proprietary antibodies targeting Caprin-1, such as the antibody TRK-950, and Bolt contributes proprietary linker-payloads from its Boltbody ISAC platform technology.
Bolt plans to co-develop and jointly commercialize the resulting ISAC product candidate with Toray. Caprin-1 is a tumor-specific antigen that is strongly expressed on the cell membrane surface of most solid tumor, with minimal expression on the surface of normal tissues. Caprin-1 has also been shown to contribute to tumor growth and metastases.
Toray's asset TRK-950 is a monoclonal antibody targeting Caprin-1 that is in Phase 2 development for Gastric cancer, providing validation for this antigen as a promising ISAC target. The connection between Toray and Bolt relationship dates back to 2002, when Dr. Fumiyoshi Okano, Senior Director of Toray, worked to enhance cancer immunotherapy techniques in Professor Ed Engleman's lab at Stanford University. After returning to Japan, Dr. Okano discovered the novel cancer therapeutic target Caprin-1 and created an anti Caprin-1 monoclonal antibody TRK-950.
Toray later decided to collaborate with Bolt in order to maximize the potential of TRK-950 with the Boltbody ISAC technology. In recent years Toray has increasingly focused on "life innovation", hastening improvements in medical technology and disease prevention. The goal is to reduce the burden on medical professionals while helping people live longer, healthier lives.
The company have prioritized oncology as one of the important areas for Toray and are working to create therapies that have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients. This collaboration is consistent with Toray's mission to achieve a healthy society through development of innovative drugs.