Twist publishes study detailing the discovery of TB206-001 targeting A2AR

Twist Bioscience announced the publication of a study detailing the discovery of TB206-001, a first-in-class antibody targeting adenosine A2A receptor, A2AR , a promising molecular target that could enhance cancer immunotherapy. The study titled, “Discovery of a potent, selective, and tumor-suppressing antibody antagonist of adenosine A2A receptor”, was published in the journal PLOS ONE. A2AR is an emerging immune checkpoint that plays a role in the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. It is part of an important class of therapeutic targets, called G protein-coupled receptors GPCRs , which are found on most immune cells and highly expressed in certain cancers. Tumors commonly produce excess adenosine, which activates A2A receptors and suppresses immune cells. Blocking A2AR could alleviate the suppressive environment and restore tumor immunity. A2AR has been shown to play a role in various cancers including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lymph node metastasis, breast cancer and melanoma as well as in autoimmune diseases and Parkinson’s. “The majority of current therapies in clinical trials targeting A2AR are small molecules, as it has been traditionally difficult to discover antibodies that block GPCRs; however, antibodies have greater affinity for target molecules, do not cross into the central nervous system and could be dosed less frequently,” said Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Twist Bioscience. “With the right partner to take it forward, TB206-001, our Twist-discovered first-in-class antibody antagonist of A2AR, could be developed as a powerful inhibitor to restore immune responses in immunosuppressive environments that allow cancer to grow.”