The meeting was organized with the patronage of the University of Turin and dedicated to the memory of Prof. Ruggero Ceppellini, one of the most important Italian geneticist and immunologist of the 20th century. The meeting was focused on two of the most interesting molecules involved in hematological malignancies: CD38 and CD157, and attracted distinguished scientists and physicians from all over the world.

Menarini Ricerche was invited to present an update on MEN1112, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD157, which is co-developed with Oxford BioTherapeutics for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a disease with a poor outcome and a high unmet medical need for innovative therapies.

CD157, the target of MEN1112, is expressed on the leukemic blasts in almost 100% of the AML patients, providing a strong rationale for this therapeutic approach. In addition, the MEN1112 antibody is engineered to enhance its cytotoxic activity against CD157-positive tumor blasts.

MEN1112 is currently in early clinical development, and the ARMY study, a first in human study in patients with relapsed or refractory AML, is ongoing.