Why did you choose the name Werewolf for your company?
The name Werewolf was selected as a metaphor to illustrate how our drugs function. They are designed to be safe and gentle throughout the patient's body, akin to a werewolf in daylight, being kind and gentle. However, upon entering the tumor microenvironment—comparable to the moonlight for a werewolf—our drugs transform into aggressive agents that target and destroy cancer cells. This metaphor encapsulates the dual nature of our therapies: benign until they reach their specific target, where they become potent cancer fighters.
What differentiates Werewolf Therapeutics in the crowded field of immunotherapy?
Founded in 2017, Werewolf Therapeutics was established to address the challenges associated with developing cytokine-based immunotherapies. Our differentiation lies in our novel technology aimed at advancing cytokines as immunotherapies for cancer. Despite the potential of cytokines to stimulate antitumor immunity, their systemic administration has been limited by toxicity and a lack of targeted delivery.
Our technology was designed to overcome these barriers, enabling the development of cytokine therapies that are activated only within the tumor microenvironment, thereby improving their safety and efficacy.
How does your immunotherapy avoid affecting healthy parts of the body?
Our approach centers on cytokines, small proteins crucial for immune cell communication, which can activate the immune system against cancer. However, their therapeutic use is hindered by a therapeutic index problem: when administered systemically, they fail to localize effectively to disease tissues and may cause widespread immune activation and toxicity. Our solution involves creating cytokine prodrugs, called INDUKINES, that remain inactive in circulation but activate upon reaching tumor tissue. This strategy aims to minimize off-target effects and maximize therapeutic efficacy within diseased tissues.
Can you describe your product pipeline and the specific cancers you target?
Our lead product, WTX-124, an interleukin-2 INDUKINE, is currently in phase 1 clinical testing, targeting immunotherapy-sensitive cancers such as melanoma, lung, and kidney cancer. It exemplifies our platform's capability to deliver cytokines directly to the tumor environment, improving therapeutic indices and reducing off-target effects. Furthermore, our pipeline includes WTX-330, an interleukin-12 INDUKINE, and JZP-898, an interferon alpha INDUKINE developed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, addressing a broad range of cancers, including those not typically responsive to immunotherapy.
You have recently published your strategic outlook for this year. What does 2024 hold for Werewolf Therapeutics?
2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for us, highlighted by encouraging interim clinical results from WTX-124's monotherapy arm. These results demonstrate the molecule's ability to improve therapeutic indices and show activity in patients who have failed other therapies. Our strategic focus includes continuing dose escalation studies for WTX-124 and expanding our clinical trials, alongside advancing our second clinical program, WTX-330, and supporting Jazz Pharmaceuticals with JZP-898. Additionally, we aim to explore partnerships to extend our technology beyond oncology, targeting other immunology-based diseases where modulating the immune system can offer therapeutic benefits such as inflammatory conditions.
How do you view the current investment climate for biotech, and are you optimistic about the future?
The past three years have presented significant challenges for biotech funding, but the underlying scientific innovation remains strong. At Werewolf, we are optimistic, particularly as we begin to see clinical data supporting our approach. To navigate the difficult investment landscape, we have adopted a strategic focus on capital conservation and prioritizing key programs while exploring potential partnership opportunities to extend our technology beyond oncology. Despite the downturn, our optimism is fueled by our progress and the potential of our technologies to bring new treatments to patients.
Where do you see Werewolf in the next three to five years?
Looking ahead three to five years, the goal for Werewolf is to significantly expand the role of cytokines in the treatment of cancer. Despite the success of immunotherapies, the majority of patients still do not respond to current treatments, underscoring the need for continued innovation. By overcoming the challenges associated with cytokine therapy, such as off-target toxicity and the need for targeted delivery, we aim to integrate our cytokine-based therapies into the broader immunotherapy landscape. Our vision is for Werewolf's molecules to become integral components of cancer treatment regimens, contributing to a new wave of immunotherapies that offer hope to a broader range of patients.
