Compugen announces development of Protein Family Members Discovery Platform

Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN) announced today the development of its Protein Family Members Discovery Platform, designed for the discovery of novel protein members belonging to various known and clinically important protein families. Analysis of the in silico prediction and selection results for the B7/CD28 protein family, the first of three such families selected for validation activities for the new platform, resulted in the identification of nine molecules predicted to be currently unknown members of this intensely and widely studied protein family. Five of these nine molecules were identified in the initial analysis, and an additional four were subsequently identified with the benefit of additional insights gained due to those initial discoveries. The other two protein families selected for platform validation activities have not been disclosed.

In many cases, when a protein belonging to a specific biological family is found to show promise as a drug or drug target for therapy for a specific disease or a group of diseases, this leads to a substantial effort by the biopharmaceutical industry and academic community to find additional members of such family that could serve as new drugs or drug targets. However, traditional experimental or bioinformatics-based approaches are often not sensitive enough to detect new members. Therefore, Compugen used its proprietary predictive biology capabilities to develop a platform designed for the systematic discovery of novel protein members belonging to clinically important protein families.

Proteins belonging to the B7/CD28 co-stimulatory family are known to play a key role in regulating immune response, and therefore are expected to have significant clinical potential in many pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases and cancer. Although of significant industry interest, when relying on traditional discovery methods, the discovery of new B7/CD28 protein family members has, in general, proven to be a very challenging task. Therefore, the B7/CD28 family was one of the three protein families selected for development and validation of the Protein Family Members Platform; the other two protein families were selected for similar reasons.

CGEN-15001, the discovery of which was recently disclosed by Compugen, was one of the nine molecules predicted to be members of the B7/CD28 family, and was the first of these predicted molecules to undergo extensive validation. In initial studies under the direction of Professor Stephen Miller from Northwestern University, a world expert in the field of multiple sclerosis, CGEN-15001 demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for multiple sclerosis. The results of additional recently completed studies, also performed in Professor Miller's laboratory, have now further clarified that the significant beneficial effect of CGEN-15001 in the disease is due to induction of immune tolerance, demonstrated by the inhibition of epitope spreading, the underlying phenomenon which causes the relapsing nature of the disease. Furthermore, it has been shown that the dramatic beneficial effects observed with CGEN-15001 in the animal model for multiple sclerosis are also accompanied by inhibition of infiltration of reactive T lymphocytes into the central nervous system.

In order to further develop CGEN-15001 and to undertake validation activities with certain of the other eight predicted B7/CD28 molecules, Compugen also announced today that it has recently expanded its engagement with Professor Miller and Northwestern University. With respect to CGEN-15001, this expanded arrangement will include experimentation to provide additional mechanistic and efficacy data required to advance CGEN-15001 toward human clinical testing as a therapeutic agent for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. With respect to the other molecules predicted to be members of the B7/CD28 protein family, the program will include both in vitro and in vivo animal disease models designed to evaluate their potential in various autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Zurit Levine, vice president of R&D at Compugen, stated, "We are very enthusiastic regarding the potential of this new platform and look forward to both validating additional novel molecules predicted and selected to date, and pursuing additional protein families of high interest. With respect to CGEN-15001, we believe this novel molecule has the potential to be superior over existing drugs for the treatment of MS and possibly other autoimmune diseases. CGEN-15001 inhibits Th1/Th17 while promoting Th2, thereby inhibiting undesired inflammatory responses while promoting beneficial immune responses. Also, due to its induction of immune tolerance, a very desirable trait among agents for treating autoimmune diseases, CGEN-15001 can provide long-term benefits and enhanced potency."