LG Chem said it initiated the clinical development of a next-generation immune checkpoint inhibitor to expand treatment opportunities for patients with solid tumors.

The company announced on Tuesday that it has commenced patient enrollment in the  phase 1 clinical trial of LB-LR1109 (project code name LR19155), its first internally developed anti-cancer  medication, in the U.S.

The new drug candidate is a monoclonal antibody medication designed to target the inhibition mechanism of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 1 (LILRB1). This mechanism interferes with the interaction between LILRB1, a crucial immune checkpoint signaling molecule expressed on various immune cells, and human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G), a protein expressed in cancer cells. 

HLA-G shields immune cells from attack, thereby enabling tumor evasion of the immune system. The drug targets LILRB1 to disrupt this interaction, thereby activating the functions of all immune cells in the body simultaneously.  LILRB1 serves as a receptor for a wide spectrum of HLA class I molecules, including the non-classical HLA class I molecule, HLA-G. HLA-G binds inhibitory receptors like LILRB1, which are commonly expressed on immune cells, thereby suppressing a broad range of immune responses. 

LG Chem explained that the target protein, LILRB1, is commonly expressed on the surface of multiple immune cells, including natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, as well as T cells, a vital component of the immune system. This sets it apart from existing immune checkpoint inhibitors, which typically target the action of a single immune cell type, such as T cells.

The company confirmed in animal models with solid tumors that the effectiveness of the treatment in fighting cancer is directly related to the dosage administered. This led to the U.S. FDA approval of its application for investigational new drug (IND) in December last year.

LG Chem intends to recruit patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors in Korea and the U.S. to evaluate the safety, tolerability, side effects, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamic properties of LILRB1 when administered to these participants. The company will collaborate closely with AVEO Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company that is now a wholly owned subsidiary of LG Chem, to develop a strategy for late-stage clinical development and approval.

"We are dedicated to offering innovative treatment experiences that are recognized and appreciated by doctors, patients, and customers worldwide," said Son Jee-wong, president of LG Chem Life Sciences Company. “We will continue to offer distinct treatment alternatives in the cancer domain, where the need for medical advancements is most acute,” he said.

According to GlobalData, a data analytics and consulting company, the global market for immune checkpoint inhibitors is expected to continue expanding from 60 trillion won ($50 billion) in 2023 to 100 trillion won ($82 billion) in 2028.

Meanwhile, LG Chem recently halted the development of LG303174, a candidate substance acquired from TransThera Science, a Chinese clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, in 2020 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) treatment.

This decision follows the suspension of another MASH candidate substance obtained from a Swedish company last year.

Instead, LG Chem is focusing on its candidate substance, LG203003, which inhibits fat accumulation in the liver and is currently in phase 1 of clinical trials.