Macomics Ltd.

Macomics partnered with the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) to test the former’s macrophage-targeted therapies in the latter’s mouse models of prostate cancer. “Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression,” Macomics CEO Stephen Myatt said. “This collaboration enhances further our ability to explore and exploit macrophage biology for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.” IOR’s mouse models of prostate cancer are specifically designed to feature the fundamental role of myeloid cells in tumour progression and are based on the institute’s “deep understanding of molecular mechanisms in cancer development,” said Andrea Alimonti, the director of IOR. The partners will test and characterise Macomic’s macrophage-targeting drug candidates, which feature novel mechanisms of action.Macrophage target discoveryMacomics’ pipeline of preclinical macrophage-targeting antibodies was built using its ENIGMAC platform, which combines patient datasets, macrophage cell models, and gene editing capabilities to discover new disease-specific macrophage targets.The biotech shared early mechanistic and in vivo data for its lead cancer programme, a ligand independent-pan-LILRB antibody, at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting earlier this year. The results suggest MACO-355 can mediate macrophage reprogramming under immunosuppressive conditions.Macomics is also working with the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology in Italy to characterise its macrophage-directed therapies with the research organisation’s ex vivo tumoroid models.Separately, Ono Pharmaceutical has an exclusive option to license from Macomics an immuno-oncology candidate directed against a novel macrophage target.

Laboratory of Prof. Andrea Alimonti at IOR (Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland) and Macomics to bring together expertise on myeloid-derived suppressor cells in prostate cancer mouse model systems The collaboration will combine advanced in vivo models with new therapeutic approaches to support Macomics’ continued exploration of novel macrophage biology for precision oncology medicines EDINBURGH, United Kingdom and CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom and BELLINZONA, Switzerland, June 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Macomics Ltd, a leader in macrophage drug discovery, announces that it has entered a scientific collaboration with Prof. Andrea Alimonti at IOR (Institute of Oncology Research), one of Switzerland’s leading research institutes. IOR is focused on the study of cancer formation and development at the molecular level. Prof. Alimonti’s laboratory is pioneering studies on prostate cancer. The collaboration will see Macomics work with Dr Bianca Calì in Prof. Alimonti’s lab to synergize this deep knowledge, particularly in the use of novel in vivo mouse models, with Macomics’ macrophage expertise. The goal is to explore new modes of action for macrophage-targeted therapies. Macomics is exploiting the potential of macrophage-targeted approaches to develop first-in-class medicines to address disease of high unmet medical need. The company’s ENIGMAC™ macrophage drug discovery platform allows access to previously hidden or inaccessible disease-specific macrophage targets: It integrates large volume human data sets, next generation human macrophage cell models, and proprietary macrophage gene editing capability to discover novel targets, unlock new disease biology, and de-risk clinical translation. Under the collaboration, the parties will explore together the potential for the use of novel in vivo prostate cancer models developed by the Alimonti lab in the characterisation of macrophage-targeted therapies, including testing of novel drug candidates with new modes of action discovered by Macomics in its complex human assay systems. Dr Luca Cassetta, VP Immunology and Founder of Macomics, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Prof. Alimonti as he is a prostate cancer expert. This collaboration will allow us to optimise the design of our therapies by accessing novel prostate cancer mouse models in which myeloid cells play a fundamental role for tumor progression.” Prof. Andrea Alimonti, IOR director, said, “This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to combine our pioneering research in prostate cancer with Macomics' expertise in macrophage-targeted therapies. By leveraging our deep understanding of molecular mechanisms in cancer development and utilizing our preclinical models, we aim to uncover innovative approaches for combating advanced prostate cancer, a disease for which a definitive cure remains an unmet clinical challenge.” Dr Stephen Myatt, CEO of Macomics, said, “This collaboration enhances further our ability to explore and exploit macrophage biology for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders.” About Macomics – Macomics Ltd is a macrophage drug discovery company with a world-leading macrophage drug discovery platform, developing first-in-class medicines to deliver transformational impact for patients with macrophage-driven diseases: Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders. The company is progressing a diversified portfolio of therapies targeting disease specific macrophages towards the clinic. Its ENIGMAC macrophage drug discovery platform enables identification and validation of novel macrophage therapeutic targets and provides a translationally relevant path to clinic through the development of more physiologically relevant human macrophage models combined with proprietary gene editing technology. The company was co-founded in 2020 by Prof. Jeffrey Pollard and Dr Luca Cassetta, University of Edinburgh, internationally recognised leaders in macrophage biology. It has R&D and office facilities in Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK. The company’s financing was led by Epidarex Capital, and the company is backed by Scottish Enterprise, LifeLink Ventures and Caribou Property Limited. Follow us on LinkedIn and About IOR - The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) is a not-for-profit research institute located in Bellinzona (Switzerland) affiliated with the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and directed by Prof. Andrea Alimonti. Established in 2003, the IOR research spans from basic research to translational and clinical research on various aspects of cancer biology, diagnosis and therapy. With eight active research groups, the IOR hosts researchers from all over the world performing basic and translational research in oncology, with a special focus on cancer biology, genomics, molecular oncology, and experimental therapeutics. With approximately 100 researchers (data updated in 2023), the IOR operates two main research programs: the "Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Research Program,” focusing on solid tumors, and the "Lymphoma and Genomics Research Program," addressing hematological neoplasias and lymphomas. Researchers at the IOR employ an interdisciplinary approach, integrating biological, genomics, and molecular methods with preclinical and translational studies. The Institute emphasizes collaboration and interaction among teams and programs to achieve common goals, such as understanding cancer mechanisms and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Follow us on LinkedIn and For further information please contact: Macomics At the Company - Steve Myatt, CEO, Macomics E: myatt@macomics.com Media enquiries (for Macomics) - Sue Charles, Charles Consultants T: +44 (0)7968 726585 E:sue@charles-consultants.com Institute of Oncology Research At the Institute – Andrea Alimonti, Director, E:andrea.alimonti@ior.usi.ch Media enquiries (for IOR) – USI Institutional Communication Service, T: +41 58 666 47 92 E: press@usi.ch

Laboratory of Prof. Massimiliano Pagani at IFOM (the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology) and Macomics to bring together expertise on T-cell biology, ex-vivo tumoroids and macrophages The collaboration will combine advanced human ex vivo models with new therapeutic approaches to support Macomics’ continued exploration of novel macrophage biology May 13, 2024 -- Macomics Ltd, a leader in macrophage drug discovery, announces that it has entered a scientific collaboration with Prof. Massimiliano Pagani from the IFOM (the AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology), one of Italy’s leading research institutes in Cancer Research. IFOM is focused on the study of cancer formation and development at the molecular level. Prof. Pagani’s laboratory is pioneering studies on Regulatory T cells in the tumour microenvironment. The collaboration will see Macomics work with Dr Francesca Simoncello in Prof. Pagani’s lab to synergize this deep knowledge, particularly in the use of ex vivo tumoroids and T cell biology, with Macomics’ macrophage expertise. The goal is to explore new modes of action for macrophage targeted therapies. Macomics is exploiting the potential of macrophage-targeted approaches to develop first-in-class medicines to address disease of high unmet medical need. The company’s ENIGMAC macrophage drug discovery platform allows access to previously hidden disease specific macrophage targets: It integrates large volume human data sets, next generation human macrophage cell models, and proprietary macrophage genome editing capability to discover novel targets, unlock new disease biology, and de-risk clinical translation. Under the collaboration the parties will explore together the potential for the use of ex vivo tumoroid models developed by the Pagani lab in the characterisation of macrophage targeted therapies, including testing of novel drug candidates with new modes of action discovered by Macomics in complex human assay systems. Dr Luca Cassetta, VP Immunology and Founder of Macomics, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with one of the leading centres of excellence in the T-cell biology field. This collaboration will allow us to optimise the design of our therapies by harnessing the power of patient-derived organoids which, unlike cell lines, recapitulate the overall architecture and functional features of the cancer tissue from which they originate. They also better replicate the complexity of the human tumour microenvironment than commonly used pre-clinical models. This understanding will accelerate the advancement of our programs towards clinical development.” Prof. Massimiliano Pagani, Principal Investigator at IFOM and Professor of Molecular Biology at the University of Milan, said, “A key goal for IFOM is the rapid transfer of scientific results from bench to bedside. This collaboration fits that goal, bringing together international experts across disciplines to accelerate the discovery of new therapies that [have the potential to] improve the long-term outcome for cancer patients.” Dr Stephen Myatt, CEO of Macomics, said, “This is an important collaboration that brings together cutting-edge technology, complex assays, and novel therapeutic strategies to address the challenge and huge potential of macrophage drug discovery. Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders, and we are advancing a number of programs in our pipeline towards clinical studies, to bring new therapies to cancer patients.” Macomics Ltd is a macrophage drug discovery company with a world-leading macrophage drug discovery platform, developing first-in-class medicines to deliver transformational impact for patients with macrophage-driven diseases: Macrophages are key to multiple diseases of high unmet medical need, including as key mediators of solid tumour immunosuppression and pathological inflammation in chronic inflammatory disorders. The company is progressing a diversified portfolio of therapies targeting disease specific macrophages towards the clinic. Its ENIGMAC macrophage drug discovery platform enables identification and validation of novel macrophage therapeutic targets and provides a translationally relevant path to clinic through the development of more physiologically relevant human macrophage models combined with proprietary gene editing technology. The company was co-founded in 2020 by Prof. Jeffrey Pollard and Dr Luca Cassetta, University of Edinburgh, internationally recognised leaders in macrophage biology. It has R&D and office facilities in Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK. The company’s financing was led by Epidarex Capital and the company is backed by Scottish Enterprise, LifeLink Ventures and Caribou Property Limited. Founded in 1998 and supported by AIRC, the Italian Association for Cancer Research, IFOM is an international cancer research institute focused on the study of cancer formation and development at molecular level, with a view to a rapid transfer of results from bench to bedside. 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