NextCure Publishes Non-Clinical Data Demonstrating Anti-Siglec-15 Treatment Prevented Bone Loss Due to Immobilization from Acute Spinal Cord Injury

Rhea-AI Summary

NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC) announced the publication of a manuscript demonstrating the potential of NC605, a novel anti-Siglec-15 (S15) antibody, to prevent bone loss and preserve bone strength in animal models of severe immobilization resulting from acute spinal cord injury.

Medical Research Analyst

The recent findings on NC605, an anti-Siglec-15 antibody, are significant in the context of medical research and pharmaceutical development. The ability of NC605 to prevent bone loss and preserve bone strength in animal models post-spinal cord injury addresses a critical gap in patient care for conditions leading to severe immobilization. This is especially relevant for patients under long-term care, such as veterans, who are at a high risk for fractures due to skeletal fragility.

Analyzing the results, the complete prevention of bone mineral density loss and the maintenance of bone formation are particularly noteworthy. These findings could potentially translate into a therapeutic option that not only inhibits bone resorption, a common issue with current treatments, but also promotes bone integrity through osteoblast recruitment. This dual-action mechanism could offer a substantial improvement over existing anti-resorptive therapies, which often inhibit bone formation alongside bone resorption.

From a biotechnological innovation standpoint, the development of NC605 could represent a significant advancement in the treatment of bone loss associated with immobilization injuries. The preclinical success of NC605 suggests a promising avenue for further research and development, potentially leading to clinical trials and, if successful, eventual FDA approval and market entry.

Financial Analyst

The publication of positive preclinical data for NextCure's NC605 has potential implications for the company's financial prospects. The development of novel therapeutics like NC605 can be a key value driver for biopharmaceutical companies, especially when addressing unmet medical needs. The successful translation of these preclinical findings into clinical practice could lead to significant market opportunities and partnerships, potentially impacting the company's revenue streams and stock valuation.

However, it is important to note that the journey from preclinical studies to market approval is long and fraught with risks. The costs associated with clinical trials, regulatory hurdles and the need for robust and consistent results cannot be overlooked. Investors and stakeholders should consider these factors while evaluating the potential impact of these findings on the company's financial health and stock performance.

Furthermore, the biopharmaceutical sector is highly competitive and the success of NC605 will depend on its efficacy and safety profile compared to existing and pipeline treatments. Market exclusivity, patent protection and strategic partnerships will be critical in determining the long-term financial success of this potential treatment.

Industry Analyst

In the broader context of the biopharmaceutical industry, the development of NC605 by NextCure represents an emerging trend of targeted therapies for complex conditions. The focus on immune-related diseases and cancer is a rapidly growing field, with significant research and investment directed towards innovative treatments like immunomedicines.

NextCure's approach to addressing bone loss through the inhibition of osteoclast maturation while enhancing osteoblast recruitment is an example of the industry's shift towards multi-modal therapies. Understanding the specific mechanisms, such as the role of Siglec-15 in bone resorption, exemplifies the precision medicine paradigm that is increasingly becoming the norm in drug development.

Moreover, the collaboration with academic institutions and veteran affairs medical centers for research underlines the importance of strategic alliances in advancing scientific discoveries. Such collaborations can accelerate the development process, share risks and combine resources and expertise, which are essential for bringing new treatments to market efficiently.

BELTSVILLE, Md., Dec. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing novel, first-in-class immunomedicines to treat cancer and other immune-related diseases, today announced the publication of a manuscript titled “Anti-Siglec-15 Antibody Prevents Marked Bone Loss after Acute Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Immobilization in Rats” in JMBR Plus, a journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). The data demonstrated that NC605, a novel anti-Siglec-15 (S15) antibody, prevented bone loss, but more importantly preserved bone strength in animal models of severe immobilization resulting from acute spinal cord injury.

Following spinal cord injury, patients typically suffer rapid and extensive bone loss. While anti-resorptive therapies have shown some efficacy in inhibiting bone loss, these agents also inhibit bone formation. In preclinical testing, NC605 has been shown to prevent bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast maturation and bone resorption by binding S15, which is expressed on the cell surface of immature osteoclasts and upregulated in differentiated osteoclasts. Unlike anti-resorptive therapies, NC605 enhances osteoblast recruitment, resulting in overall enhanced bone quality.

“Bone loss due to severe immobilization is rapid, progressive and severe. Skeletal fragility in patients with immobilization injuries, including many veterans under long term care in VA centers, places them at great risk for fractures. With no practical interventions currently available, there is a substantial unmet clinical need for therapeutics that can prevent bone loss due to severe immobilization,” said Solomon Langermann, Ph.D., NextCure’s chief scientific officer. “The data highlight the unique and favorable features of Siglec-15 antibodies relative to current anti-resorptive agents, and suggest encouraging potential for NC605 to mitigate the striking bone loss and preserve bone strength in patients with spinal cord injury or other immobilization injuries.”

In the animal model of spinal cord injury, bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed and compared to control animals. Key findings from the study include:

• Treatment with anti-S15 antibody completely prevented loss of BMD in the femur and tibia.
• High-resolution imaging analysis revealed almost complete prevention of trabecular bone volume loss.
• Blood and bone structure analyses revealed that the anti-S15 antibody was able to greatly inhibit bone resorption while maintaining bone formation and quality.
• Ex vivo analysis showed increased numbers of osteoblasts as well as increased levels of mRNA encoding osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein (BSP), markers of bone formation and integrity, demonstrating a unique ability of the antibody to reduce osteoclast formation and bone resorption while promoting osteoblast recruitment to maintain bone integrity.

The data were generated in collaboration with Dr. Weiping Qin, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators at the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York.

About NextCure, Inc.

NextCure is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering and developing novel, first-in-class immunomedicines to treat cancer and other immune related-diseases. Our focus is to bring hope and new treatments to patients who do not respond to current therapies, patients whose disease progresses despite treatment and patients with diseases not adequately addressed by available therapies. www.nextcure.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “hope,” “forward” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, statements about NextCure’s plans, objectives, and intentions with respect to the discovery of immunomedicine targets and the discovery and development of immunomedicines. Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others: our limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale; our history of significant losses; our need to obtain additional financing; risks related to clinical development, including that early clinical data may not be confirmed by later clinical results; risks that pre-clinical research may not be confirmed in clinical trials; risks related to marketing approval and commercialization; and the unproven approach to the discovery and development of product candidates based on our FIND-IO platform. More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect NextCure’s actual results are described in NextCure’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including NextCure’s most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Q. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. NextCure assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, even if expectations change.

Investor Inquiries
Timothy Mayer, Ph.D.
NextCure, Inc.
Chief Operating Officer
(240) 762-6486
IR@nextcure.com

What did NextCure, Inc. (NXTC) announce?

NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC) announced the publication of a manuscript titled “Anti-Siglec-15 Antibody Prevents Marked Bone Loss after Acute Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Immobilization in Rats” in JMBR Plus, a journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

What is NC605?

NC605 is a novel anti-Siglec-15 (S15) antibody developed by NextCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTC).

What are the key findings from the study?

Key findings from the study include: Treatment with anti-S15 antibody completely prevented loss of BMD in the femur and tibia, high-resolution imaging analysis revealed almost complete prevention of trabecular bone volume loss, and blood and bone structure analyses revealed that the anti-S15 antibody was able to greatly inhibit bone resorption while maintaining bone formation and quality.

Who collaborated in generating the data?

The data were generated in collaboration with Dr. Weiping Qin, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators at the Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York.