Apexigen Touts New Positive Sotigalimab Data Showing Expanded Anti-Tumor Responses

• Apexigen Inc (NASDAQ: APGN) announced the presentation of new data from Phase 2 multicenter clinical trials evaluating sotigalimab (sotiga), its agonist antibody targeting CD40, in two poster presentations at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

• Following a single dose of sotiga monotherapy, T cell density increased, mainly activated and memory cytotoxic T cells and macrophages. Although patient sample numbers are small, pathologic complete responses were associated with an increased density of T cells following a single dose of sotiga.

• Single-agent sotiga induced infiltration and activation of myeloid cells. Sotiga also induced infiltration of CD8+ T cells while decreasing the frequency of CD4+ regulatory T cells in the TME.

• In a separate study, results demonstrated that adding sotiga to short-course radiation therapy (SCRT) led to increased activation of anti-cancer immune cells, including T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells in the TME of rectal cancer patients compared to SCRT alone.

• The combination showed the potential to improve clinical responses and avoid surgery.

• These emerging data highlight the potential of combining sotiga, an agent that induces robust immune responses, with SCRT to treat rectal cancer patients.

• Price Action: APGN shares are up 6.21% at $1.90 on the last check Thursday.

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