Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, a new type of cancer treatment, have been successfully manufactured on a large scale for the first time. These antibodies are potent and long-lasting, and can target cancer cells even with low antigen levels. The newly produced material is planned to be used in a study on patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, set to begin later in 2024.

Tim Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Epsilogen, commented, “Decades of technical achievement and financial investment have made GMP manufacture of the IgG class of therapeutic antibodies a routine process. Lonza and Epsilogen have worked together to apply Lonza’s knowledge and experience to MOv18 IgE. As a part of the IgE antibody class, it is structurally and functionally distinct from IgG. It is very gratifying to see this effort and investment pay off."

Stefan Egli, Global Head of Mammalian Biologics, Lonza, added, “This marks a significant milestone for Epsilogen, bringing its promising IgE-based product closer to the clinic. Having produced the GMP batch of this non-platform complex molecule under record time is also a statement that demonstrates the strategic value of our manufacturing services offering tailored to each molecule’s unique properties, and analytical and purification needs.”

Epsilogen believes that this was the first, and remains the only, IgE antibody in clinical development. Epsilogen has successfully completed a Phase I safety study in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients where it was found to be safe and well-tolerated, with evidence of anti-tumour activity observed.