MARSEILLE, France, April 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH ? ISIN: FR0010331421; Nasdaq: IPHA) (?Innate? or the ?Company?) today announced that the first patient was dosed in a randomized, double-blind Phase II clinical trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of its anti-C5aR antibody, avdoralimab (IPH5401), in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia.

The primary objective of this investigator-sponsored trial, named FORCE^a, is to improve the proportion of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia who no longer need to be hospitalized, and to reduce the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The Phase II trial is supported by an exploratory translational study,?EXPLORE COVID-19, which suggests that patients who progress towards severe COVID-19 disease exhibit an activation of the C5a/C5aR pathway.

?Through the translational data analysis in COVID-19 patients, we observed high levels of circulating C5a and over-activation of the C5a-dependent myeloid cell pathway, which is believed to contribute to inflammation in the lungs. Avdoralimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks C5aR and has the potential to reduce the inflammatory response in the lungs,??said Pr. Eric Vivier, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Innate Pharma and Professor at AP-HM (Marseille Public University Hospitals), Aix-Marseille University and Centre d?Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy.??In this randomized trial, we hope to demonstrate that the use of avdoralimab?helps improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia.?

?The intensive care units are currently overburdened in France, along with every country affected by the pandemic. Hospitalization in intensive care units is often long, from 14 to 21 days, and physicians have no effective treatments for patients.?The objective of this study is to investigate whether avdoralimab can reduce the duration of hospitalization, and the duration and need for mechanical ventilation in an important proportion of COVID-19 patients,??explains Pr. Nicolas Schleinitz, MD, Internal Medicine Service, Timone Hospital, Professor at AP-HM, Aix-Marseille University and Principal Investigator for the FORCE study.

About the clinical trial:

FORCE is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial evaluating avdoralimab in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia. The trial will be conducted in La Timone Hospital and Nord Hospital in Marseille (Hopitaux Universitaires de Marseille ? AP-HM) and in the Hospital Laveran (HIA-Laveran).

The trial is expected to enroll a total of 108 patients (age 18-80) between two cohorts:?one cohort of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at baseline and one cohort of COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia complicated by ARDS and admitted in ICU at baseline.? In each cohort, patients will receive avdoralimab or placebo.

Avdoralimab (IPH5401) in cancer:

Avdoralimab is a therapeutic antibody that specifically binds and blocks C5a receptors (C5aR) expressed on myeloid cells, including monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. ?It is currently in Phase I development in solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer.

Avdoralimab in COVID-19:

C5a has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARDS by promoting a proinflammatory environment, through the attraction of neutrophils and stimulation of immune cells such as T and B cells to release cytokines. ?Avdoralimab blocks C5aR and has the potential to reduce the inflammatory response in the lungs.

About Innate Pharma:

Innate Pharma S.A. is a commercial stage oncology-focused biotech company dedicated to improving treatment and clinical outcomes for patients through therapeutic antibodies that harness the immune system to fight cancer.

Innate Pharma?s commercial-stage product, Lumoxiti, in-licensed from AstraZeneca in the US, EU and Switzerland, was approved by the FDA in September 2018. Lumoxiti is a first-in class specialty oncology product for hairy cell leukemia. Innate Pharma?s broad pipeline of antibodies includes several potentially first-in-class clinical and preclinical candidates in cancers with high unmet medical need.

Innate has been a pioneer in the understanding of natural killer cell biology and has expanded its expertise in the tumor microenvironment and tumor-antigens, as well as antibody engineering. This innovative approach has resulted in a diversified proprietary portfolio and major alliances with leaders in the biopharmaceutical industry including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk A/S, Sanofi, and a multi-products collaboration with AstraZeneca.

Based in Marseille, France, Innate Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris and Nasdaq in the US.

Learn more about Innate Pharma at?www.innate-pharma.com

Information about Innate Pharma shares:

ISIN code Ticker code LEI

FR0010331421 Euronext: IPH Nasdaq: IPHA 9695002Y8420ZB8HJE29

Disclaimer:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including those within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.The use of certain words, including ?believe,? ?potential,? ?expect? and ?will? and similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements.?Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including related to safety, progression of and results from its ongoing and planned clinical trials and preclinical studies, review and approvals by regulatory authorities of its product candidates, the Company?s commercialization efforts and the Company?s continued ability to raise capital to fund its development.?For an additional discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the company's actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (?Facteurs de Risque") section of the Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (?AMF?), which is available on the AMF website?http://www.amf-france.org?or on?Innate Pharma?s website, and public filings and reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (?SEC?), including the Company?s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent filings and reports filed with the AMF or SEC, or otherwise made public, by the Company.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to shares in Innate Pharma in any country.

For additional information, please contact:

Investors Innate Pharma?? Danielle Spangler Tel.: +1 917 499 6240 Danielle.Spangler@innate-pharma.com J?r?me Marino Tel.: +33 (0)4 30 30 30 30 investors@innate-pharma.com