BerGenBio Presents Data on STK11 Loss of Function and AXL Activation at AACR

18 Apr 2023 07:00 CEST

- In addition to STK11 mutations, KEAP1m identified as being associated with
STK11 loss of function -

- STK11 loss of function correlated to AXL activation and poorer outcomes in
NSCLC -

BERGEN, Norway, April 18, 2023 - BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for
severe unmet medical needs, today announced that it presented data linking AXL
activation to STK11 loss of function in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in an
abstract titled, AXL as a Therapeutic Target in STK11 mutant NSCLC, at the
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023.

An analysis of tumors lacking STK11 function from BerGenBio's 2nd line NSCLC
trial (BGBC008) and publicly available datasets suggest that STK11 and KEAP1
mutations are transcriptionally similar and share a common signature for STK11
loss of function. Loss of function leading to inactivation of STK11 is found in
approximately 30% of lung adenocarcinomas as a result of both mutational and non
-mutational mechanisms. These tumors with inactivated STK11 are likely to
promote AXL activation due to high levels of energetic and metabolic stress,
resulting in a poorer prognosis in NSCLC.

AXL, a member of the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases, is expressed in
over 80% of NSCLC tumors that demonstrate loss of STK11 function. AXL is
activated in response to inflammation, hypoxia, cellular stress or drug
treatment. AXL is expressed in both tumor cells, where it enhances survival and
drug resistance, and in innate immune cells, such as dendritic cells and
macrophages, where AXL drives immune suppression. BerGenBio's selective AXL
inhibitor bemcentinib targets key survival and resistance mechanisms within the
tumor and restores the anti-tumor characteristics of innate immune cells within
the tumor microenvironment.

"There is accumulating evidence substantiating the importance of targeting AXL
within the tumor and innate immune cells of the tumor microenvironment," said
Nigel McCracken,Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of BerGenBio. "A loss of STK11
function due to STK11 or KEAP1 mutations is associated with a poorer prognosis,
irrespective of treatment modality and represents a large subgroup of NSCLC
patients with high unmet need. Our preclinical data and the clinical data from
our Phase 2 trial evaluating bemcentinib in combination with pembrolizumab
support targeting AXL in both STK11 and KEAP1 mutated NSCLC patients."

The abstract will be available on the Company's website in the Scientific
Presentations (https://www.bergenbio.com/investors/presentations/) portion of
the Investors section.

-End-

Contacts

Martin Olin CEO, BerGenBio ASA

ir@bergenbio.com

Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA

rune.skeie@bergenbio.com

Investor Relations / Media Relations

Graham Morrell

graham.morrell@bergenbio.com

Media Relations Norway

Jan Lilleby

jl@lillebyfrisch.no

+47 90 55 16 98

About BerGenBio ASA

BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing
transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for
aggressive diseases, including cancer and severe respiratory infections. The
Company is focused on its proprietary lead candidate, bemcentinib, a potentially
first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in development for STK11 mutated NSCLC
and COVID-19.

BerGenBio is based in Bergen, Norway with a subsidiary in Oxford, UK. The
company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO). For more
information, visitwww.bergenbio.com

Forward looking statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, which as such are not
historical facts, but are based upon various assumptions, many of which are
based, in turn, upon further assumptions. These assumptions are inherently
subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
important factors. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other important
factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations
expressed or implied in this announcement by such forward-looking statements.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5
-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

More information:
Access the news on Oslo Bors NewsWeb site

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