MONROVIA, Calif., Feb. 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial of XmAb®18087, a bispecific antibody for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

"XmAb18087 engages the immune system against tumors by binding to somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) and CD3," said Paul Foster, M.D., chief medical officer at Xencor. "In preclinical studies, XmAb18087 has shown potent killing of human tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo and the stimulation of target-dependent T-cell activation. This is our first bispecific antibody targeting solid tumors to enter into clinical trials, and we expect to file INDs for three more bispecific antibodies for solid tumors this year."

The trial is a multiple ascending dose study to determine the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of weekly intravenous administration of XmAb18087 and to determine the maximally tolerated dose and regimen in patients with advanced NET or GIST.

For more information about the XmAb18087 clinical trial please visit to https://clinicaltrials.gov/ (identifier: NCT03411915). 

About Neuroendocrine Tumors
Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are abnormal growths that begin in neuroendocrine cells, which are distributed widely throughout the body. Most neuroendocrine tumors occur in the lungs, appendix, small intestine, rectum and pancreas. It is estimated that more than 12,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor each year. For more information visit www.cancer.net.

About Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are soft-tissue sarcomas, cancers that grow from cells of the body's connective or supportive tissues, that can be located in any part of the digestive system. The most common sites of GISTs are the stomach and small intestine. Each year, as many as 3,500 to 4,000 adults in the United States will be diagnosed with a GIST. For more information visit www.cancer.net.

About Xencor's XmAb^® Bispecific Technology
As opposed to traditional monoclonal antibodies that target and bind to a single antigen, bispecific antibodies are designed to elicit multiple biological effects that require simultaneous binding to two different antigen targets. Xencor's XmAb bispecific Fc domain technology is designed to maintain full-length antibody properties in a bispecific antibody, potentially enabling favorable in vivo half-life and simplified manufacturing.

About Xencor, Inc.
Xencor is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer. Currently, 12 candidates engineered with Xencor's XmAb® technology are in clinical development internally and with partners. Xencor's internal programs include: XmAb®5871 in Phase 2 development for the treatment of IgG4-Related Disease, and also for the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; XmAb®7195 in Phase 1 development for the treatment of asthma and allergic diseases; XmAb®14045 in Phase 1 development for acute myeloid leukemia; XmAb®13676 in Phase 1 development for B-cell malignancies; XmAb®18087 in Phase 1 development for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors; and XmAb®20717, XmAb®22841 and XmAb®23104 in pre-clinical development for the treatment of multiple cancers. Xencor's XmAb antibody engineering technology enables small changes to the structure of monoclonal antibodies resulting in new mechanisms of therapeutic action. Xencor partners include Novartis, Amgen, MorphoSys, Merck, CSL/Janssen, Alexion and Boehringer Ingelheim. For more information, please visit www.xencor.com.

Forward Looking Statements:
Statements contained in this press release and the related abstracts and presentations regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including any expectations relating to our business, research and development programs, partnering efforts or our capital requirements. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements and the timing of events to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such risks include, without limitation, the risks associated with the process of discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics and other risks described in Xencor's public securities filings. All forward-looking statements are based on Xencor's current information and belief as well as assumptions made by Xencor. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements and Xencor disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Xencor, Inc.

Investor Contact: John Kuch, Vice President Finance, Xencor, Tel: 626-737-8013, jkuch@xencor.com; Corporate Communications Contact: Jason I. Spark, Canale Communications for Xencor, Tel: 619-849-6005, jason@canalecomm.com