Memo Therapeutics enters clinical stage with an antibody against BK virus infection

Memo Therapeutics’ MTX-005 is a therapeutic antibody candidate that was identified through the screening of a vast number of kidney transplant patients infected with BK virus (BKV) to find those few with an eradicating antibody response against the virus. Selected from thousands of BKV-specific antibodies, MTX-005 completely neutralizes all strains of BKV at extremely low concentrations.

The phase 1, single-blind, partially randomized, placebo-controlled study will assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of single and multiple ascending intravenous doses of MTX-005 in up to 56 healthy adult volunteers. 

BKV infection poses a significant threat in kidney transplantation. Normally dormant, the immunosuppression needed for transplant survival can trigger reactivation of BKV in 40 to 50% of kidney transplant recipients. Up to 10% of these cases can progress to BKV associated nephropathy, which poses a serious threat to the transplant. There is currently no disease modifying therapy available except for the lowering of immunosuppression. However, this significantly increases the risk of a graft rejection reaction, leading to impaired functionality and longevity, or graft failure. 

“With 50,000 kidney transplant procedures carried out in the US and Europe alone, MTX-005 addresses a large and rapidly growing market, with an estimated size well beyond USD 1 billion,” said Dr. Karsten Fischer, Chief Executive Officer of Memo Therapeutics AG. “We look forward to reporting phase 1 clinical data for our best- and potentially first-in-class antibody in the first half of 2023.”

(Press release / SK)