23ME-01473

NK cells are cytotoxic immune cells capable of generating a powerful anti-tumor immune response. However, existing NK cell-activating therapies have shown limited efficacy and applicability. One key challenge is that tumor cells can shed NKG2D ligands into the tumor microenvironment, which act as immunosuppressive molecular decoys by binding the NKG2D receptor on NK cells and preventing its interaction with immune-activating NKG2D ligands (e.g. MICA) expressed on tumor cells.

23andMe Therapeutics aims to overcome this challenge with 23ME-01473, an antibody that targets NKG2D ligand ULBP6. The antibody induces NK cell activation through two mechanisms:

• 23ME-01473 sequesters shed ULBP6, leaving the NKG2D receptor available to engage immune activating, cell surface-expressed NKG2D ligands (e.g. MICA).

• 23ME-01473 is Fc effector-enhanced, promoting antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) through Fc gamma receptor IIIa engagement on NK cells.