Specifically Engineered to Eliminate CD38 Expressing Cells
TAK-169 is a second generation engineered toxin body (ETB) that is a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) with an affinity for CD38, fused to the enzymatically active de-immunized Shiga-like toxin-A subunit (SLTA). TAK-169 specifically binds and kills CD38 expressing cells consistent with SLTA mediated cellular cytotoxicity. TAK-169 is being developed through a collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
TAK-169 is designed to avoid competition with and to overcome the primary mechanisms of tumor resistance to daratumumab. The TAK-169 candidate is active in the presence of daratumumab, which we believe demonstrates its potential to be combined with approved CD38 targeted therapies.
TAK-169 mediates enzymatic and irreversible ribosomal inhibition and induces direct cell death so changes in the tumor microenvironment, such as CD55/59 upregulation, which inhibit immune-mediated mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) or complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) are not expected to inhibit TAK-169 activity.