MDNA19

MDNA19 is a long-acting, engineered interleukin-2 (IL-2) “Superkine” designed to selectively stimulate anti-tumor effector T cells and natural killer (NK) cells while avoiding activation of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, for use in the treatment of solid tumors and other cancers.[1][2] Developed by Medicenna Therapeutics from the MDNA109 IL-2 superkine platform, MDNA19 exhibits greatly increased affinity for the IL-2 receptor beta subunit (IL-2Rβ/CD122) and no detectable binding to the IL-2 receptor alpha subunit (CD25), thereby favoring signaling through the intermediate-affinity CD122/CD132 receptor complex expressed on cytotoxic lymphocytes and minimizing interaction with high-affinity CD25-containing receptors on Tregs and endothelial cells.[1][2] This receptor bias produces potent expansion and activation of CD8+ T cells and NK cells with reduced immune suppression and vascular toxicity relative to recombinant IL-2 (aldesleukin/Proleukin), and in preclinical models MDNA19 has shown robust anti-tumor activity as monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, with durable tumor control and long-term immune memory after limited dosing.[1][2] Non-human primate data have further demonstrated strong, dose-dependent proliferation and activation of lymphocyte subsets without the severe cytokine-driven toxicities typically associated with high-dose IL-2, supporting MDNA19’s development as a best-in-class IL-2-based immunotherapy candidate.[4][10]

Other names

IL-2 Superkine MDNA19IL2 Superkine MDNA19IL 2 Superkine MDNA19