NeoImmuneTech, Inc. announced an agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop NeoImmuneTech's main asset NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa) (rhIL-7-hyFc), for the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS). ARS is an acute illness caused by irradiation of most of the body by a high dose of penetrating radiation in a short period of time. These kinds of exposures can cause profound suppression of hematopoiesis and T cell depletion, significantly increasing susceptibility to infections.

Currently, there is no therapeutic option for accelerating recovery of the T cell compartment following radiation exposure. NT–I7, a novel long-acting human interleukin-7 (IL-7), is expected to quickly restore lymphocyte levels and reduce vulnerability to infectious disease after radiation exposure. In the clinical setting, NT–I7 has been shown to increase T cell counts significantly and persistently while being safe and well tolerated.

NeoImmuneTech and NIAID will collaborate to design a study plan to test NT-I7 in NIAID's established ARS rodent models. NIAID will conduct the study with NIT-provided NT-I7. The data generated will greatly aid in the development of NT-I7 as a medical countermeasure (MCM) for ARS.

If the study confirms NT-I7's efficacy in rodents, additional studies could be undertaken to confirm NT-I7's efficacy in nonhuman primates. With these preclinical studies, NIT would seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for NT-I7 for the treatment of ARS under the "Animal Rule", which is an approval pathway used for MCM development when human efficacy studies are not ethical or feasible. With the support of NIT, initial preclinical studies conducted by Dr. Benny Chen at Duke University demonstrate that NT-I7 improves T cell reconstitution following total body irradiation.

These results were presented at the 2022 Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN) Workshop (August 4-5, 2022) and at the Radiation Research Society (RRS) 68th Annual Meeting (October 16-19, 2022). Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS) is an acute illness caused by irradiation of the entire body by a high dose of penetrating radiation in a very short period of time (typically a matter of minutes or less). Examples of people who suffered from ARS are individuals exposed during the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings, and the firefighters that responded after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant incident in 1986.

NT-I7 (efineptakin alfa) (rhIL-7-hyFc) is the only clinical-stage long-acting human IL-7 and is being developed in oncologic and immunologic indications, where T cell amplification and increased functionality may provide clinical benefit. IL-7 is a fundamental cytokine for naïve and memory T cell development and sustaining immune response to chronic antigens (as in cancer) or foreign antigens (as in infectious diseases). NT-I7 exhibits favorable PK/PD and safety profiles, making it an ideal combination partner.

NT-I7 is being studied in multiple clinical trials in solid tumors and as a vaccine adjuvant. Studies are being planned for testing in hematologic malignancies, additional solid tumors and other immunology-focused indications.