IGM Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:IGMS) Q4 2022 Earnings Call Transcript

Fred Schwarzer: So, Chris, why don’t you take the first question and I’ll take the second one.

Chris Takimoto: Sure. Yes, so with regards to the birinapant combination, so, obviously we’re in a dose escalation part of the study. And just to be clear, we’re escalating the dose of birinapant in this study. And we’re conducting this in patients with all different types of solid tumors. So it’s a standard solid tumor Phase 1 dose escalation study that is continuing to go on. In terms of where we might take this, again our strong interest in birinapant in this combination was really built on the preclinical models that showed strong synergy as well as the scientific, mechanistic understanding of how a SMAC mimetic could obviously combine very well with a stimulator agonist of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. And so we’ve seen activity in a range of different preclinical models. I know, Bruce, you want to comment a little bit to that in terms of where we think this is promising.

Bruce Keyt: Yes. Yes, Michael, thank you for the question. We have tested literally hundreds of different cell lines and patient samples in tumors. And we are, of course, always interested in any mechanism action type signals, but as well as prognostic indicators that might steer us. But what is really exciting is, as Chris mentioned, is we do see with the treatment of FOLFIRI, particularly 5FU and irinotecan, you get the synergy, but you also get upregulation of DR5, which may combine well and set us up for success with IGM-8444 treatment. Now, still having that we’ll, of course, have to do the studies, but the combination the clinical studies to show where and when, which patients result in the best therapy. But we €“ our preclinical data says that we’re going to see a broad spectrum response in this and other indications.

Chris Takimoto: And I think with respect to the specific question of birinapant, we think that that very much could be broadly applicable against a lot of different solid tumors. And hopefully with the combination of IGM-8444 and birinapant little or no additional toxicity. And so there may be multiple combinations here that are possible going forward. So

Bruce Keyt: Yes.

Chris Takimoto: Very encouraging, as Michael, as you know, with those two agents, we are hitting both the extrinsic apoptotic pathway and the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. And we think that’s a real important one to punch that could be if €“ with no seeming additional toxicity could be very, very helpful,

Bruce Keyt: Right. I mean, we clearly have quite a body of data showing that that we have high safety in both of these. And now pre-clinically we see again, a series of animal models and in vitro where the combination with birinapant intrinsic and IGM-8444 intrinsic really combine well.

Chris Takimoto: And thanks for your question about strategic partnerships for imvotamab, and I might expand it out to say imvotamab and our T cell engagers for autoimmune, perhaps more broadly. As you say, the opportunities there are large in number, large in size and could take a lot of money to pursue, but with a lot of potential upside at the end of the pathway. So, I think that strategically finding a partner that was looking to join us to explore this really new opportunity of T cell engagers and autoimmune disease, would be a really good thing for us as a company. Now exactly what the timing of that is, we’ll have to wait and see. But long term, I think, the opportunities are so large and so many different things we could do, I think, a partner would be a really good idea for that franchise if you will.

Michael Schmidt: Great. Thanks so much.