On April 29, 2024 Astrazeneca reported positive high-level results from the DESTINY-Breast06 Phase III trial showed that Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy in the primary trial population of patients with HR-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-) metastatic breast cancer following one or more lines of endocrine therapy (Press release, AstraZeneca, APR 29, 2024, View Source [SID1234642407]).

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A statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS was also observed in the overall trial population (patients with HER2-low and HER2-ultralow [defined as IHC 0 with membrane staining; IHC >0<1+] metastatic breast cancer). A prespecified subgroup analysis showed the clinically meaningful improvement was consistent between patients with HER2-low and HER2-ultralow expression.

Overall survival (OS) data were not mature at the time of the analysis; however, Enhertu showed an early trend towards an OS improvement versus standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer and in the overall trial population. The trial will continue as planned to further assess OS and other secondary endpoints.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "DESTINY-Breast06 shows that Enhertu could become a new standard of care for patients with HER2-low and HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer following one or more lines of endocrine therapy. These data underscore the potential for treatment with Enhertu across the spectrum of HR-positive breast cancer, further redefining the treatment of metastatic breast cancer."

Ken Takeshita, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo, said: "The topline results from DESTINY-Breast06 highlight the importance of continuing to challenge current treatment paradigms and established breast cancer classifications to evolve how we treat patients with HR-positive, HER2-expressing metastatic breast cancer. Building on the practice-changing data seen in DESTINY-Breast04, these results reinforce the potential for use of Enhertu earlier in the treatment landscape and in an even broader patient population."

Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2-directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo.

It is estimated that approximately 60-65% of HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers are HER2-low and potentially an additional 25% may be HER2-ultralow.1,2 Endocrine therapies are widely used in the early lines of treatment for HR-positive metastatic breast cancer; however after two lines of treatment, further efficacy from endocrine therapy is often limited.3 The current standard of care following endocrine therapy is chemotherapy, which is associated with poor response rates and outcomes.3-6

The safety profile of Enhertu was consistent with previous breast cancer clinical trials with no new safety signals identified.

The data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities.

Notes

DESTINY-Breast06
DESTINY-Breast06 is a global, randomised, open-label, Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) versus investigator’s choice of chemotherapy (capecitabine, paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel) in patients with HR-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (defined as IHC 0 with membrane staining; IHC >0<1+) advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Patients in the trial had no prior chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic disease and either experienced disease progression within 6 months of starting 1st-line treatment with an endocrine therapy combined with a CDK4/6 inhibitor or received at least two previous lines of endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting.

The primary endpoint is PFS in the HR-positive, HER2-low patient population as measured by blinded independent central review (BICR). Key secondary endpoints include OS in patients with HER2-low expression and PFS by BICR and OS in the overall trial population (HER2-low and HER2-ultralow). Other secondary endpoints include objective response rate, duration of response, time to first subsequent treatment or death, time to second subsequent treatment or death and safety. Analysis of the HER2-ultralow subgroup was not powered to demonstrate statistical significance.

DESTINY-Breast06 enrolled 866 patients (n=713 for HER2-low and n=153 for HER2-ultralow) at multiple sites in Asia, Europe, North America and South America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Breast cancer and HER2 expression
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.7 More than two million breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022 with more than 665,000 deaths globally.7 While survival rates are high for those diagnosed with early breast cancer, only approximately 30% of patients who are diagnosed with or progress to metastatic disease are expected to live five years after their diagnosis.8

HR-positive, HER2-negative is the most common breast cancer subtype, accounting for approximately 70% of all breast cancers.8 HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of many types of tumours, including breast cancer.9 Patients with high levels of HER2 expression (IHC 3+ or 2+/ISH+) are classified as HER2-positive and treated with HER2-targeted therapies, representing approximately 15-20% of all breast cancers.10 Historically, tumours that were not classified as HER2-positive were classified as HER2-negative; however, many of these tumours still carry some level of HER2 expression.11 It is estimated that approximately 60-65% of HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers are HER2-low and potentially an additional 25% may be HER2-ultralow.1,2

Prior to the approval of Enhertu in HER2-low metastatic breast cancer post chemotherapy based on the DESTINY-Breast04 trial, there were no targeted therapies approved specifically for patients with HER2-low expression.12 There are no targeted therapies specifically approved for patients with HER2-ultralow expression.

Enhertu
Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology, Enhertu is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced programme in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Enhertu consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 60 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or 2+/ISH+) breast cancer who have received a (or one or more) prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 60 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial.

Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 35 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic NSCLC whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 trial. Continued approval in the US for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu (6.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 40 countries for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or 2+/ISH+) gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01 and/or DESTINY-Gastric02 trials.

Enhertu (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumours who have received prior systemic treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based on results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-Lung01 and DESTINY-CRC02 trials.

Enhertu development programme
A comprehensive global clinical development programme is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu monotherapy across multiple HER2-targetable cancers. Trials in combination with other anti-cancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, also are underway.

On April 29, 2024 AstraZeneca reported that Truqap (capivasertib) in combination with Faslodex (fulvestrant) has been recommended for approval in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2‑negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with one or more PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN-alterations following recurrence or progression on or after an endocrine-based regimen (Press release, AstraZeneca, APR 29, 2024, View Source [SID1234642406]).

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The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) based its positive opinion on the results from the CAPItello-291 Phase III trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine.1

In the trial, Truqap in combination with Faslodex reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 50% versus Faslodex alone in patients with tumours harbouring PI3K, AKT or PTEN alterations (based on hazard ratio of 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.38-0.65; p=<0.001; median progression-free survival (PFS) 7.3 versus 3.1 months).1

In Europe, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, with more than 140,000 deaths in 2022 and more than 550,000 new patients diagnosed in the same year.2 HR-positive breast cancer (expressing estrogen or progesterone receptors, or both), is the most common subtype of breast cancer with 70% of tumours considered HR-positive and HER2-low or HER2-negative.3 More than 97% of HR-positive breast cancer tumours are ER-positive.4,5 Collectively, mutations in PIK3CA, AKT1 and alterations in PTEN occur frequently, affecting approximately 50% of patients with advanced HR-positive breast cancer.6-8 HR-positive breast cancer progression is often driven by estrogen receptors, and endocrine therapies that target ER-driven disease are widely used as 1st-line treatment in the advanced setting, and often paired with CDK4/6 inhibitors.9-11 However, resistance to these therapies develops in many patients with advanced disease, and alternative approaches are needed to extend the effectiveness of endocrine-based therapies.10

Mafalda Oliveira, MD, PhD, Senior Consultant at the Department of Medical Oncology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, and Senior Clinical Investigator of the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology’s (VHIO) Breast Cancer Group in Barcelona, Spain, said: "There is an urgent need to extend the effectiveness of widely used endocrine therapies in patients with advanced ER-positive breast cancer to delay disease progression or resistance. With this combination demonstrating a fifty per cent reduction in disease progression or death in patients with tumours harbouring PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN-alterations in the CAPItello-291 trial, this positive recommendation marks an important step in providing a much-needed new treatment option for approximately half of patients in this setting with these specific tumour biomarkers."

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: "Today’s news reinforces the practice-changing potential of Truqap in combination with Faslodex to extend the effectiveness of endocrine-based treatment approaches for patients who experience tumour progression on, or resistance to widely used endocrine-based therapies. This recommendation recognises the high unmet need in this biomarker-specific patient population, and if approved, patients in Europe with this specific type of disease may be able to benefit from this first-in-class treatment option."

In the CAPItello-291 trial, the safety profile of Truqap plus Faslodex was similar to that observed in previous trials evaluating this combination.1

Regulatory applications are currently under review in China and several other countries, and similar indications for Truqap in combination with Faslodex are already approved in Japan, the US and several other countries based on results from the CAPItello-291 trial.

Notes

HR-positive breast cancer
In Europe, breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, with more than 140,000 deaths in 2022 and more than 550,000 new patients diagnosed in the same year.2

HR-positive breast cancer (expressing estrogen or progesterone receptors, or both), is the most common subtype of breast cancer with 70% of tumours considered HR-positive and HER2-low or HER2-negative.3

HR-positive breast cancer progression is often driven by estrogen receptors, and endocrine therapies that target ER-driven disease are widely used as 1st-line treatment in the advanced setting, and often paired with CDK4/6 inhibitors.9-11 However, resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and current endocrine therapies develops in many patients with advanced disease.10 Once this occurs, treatment options are limited – with chemotherapy being the current standard of care – and survival rates are low with approximately 35% of patients anticipated to live beyond five years after diagnosis.3,10,12

The optimisation of endocrine therapy and overcoming resistance to enable patients to continue benefiting from these treatments, as well as identifying new therapies for those who are less likely to benefit, are active areas of focus for breast cancer research.

CAPItello-291
CAPItello-291 is a Phase III, double-blind, randomised trial evaluating the efficacy of Truqap in combination with Faslodex versus placebo plus Faslodex for the treatment of locally advanced (inoperable) or metastatic HR-positive (ER-positive and ER-positive, progesterone receptor-positive), HER2-low or negative (immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0 or 1+, or IHC 2+/in-situ hybridisation (ISH)-negative) breast cancer.

The global trial enrolled 708 adult patients with histologically confirmed HR-positive, HER2-low or negative breast cancer whose disease has recurred or progressed during or after aromatase inhibitor therapy, with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor, and up to one line of chemotherapy for advanced disease. The trial has dual primary endpoints of PFS in the overall patient population and in a population of patients whose tumours have qualifying alterations in the PI3K/AKT pathway (PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN genes). In the trial, approximately 40% of tumours had these alterations and approximately 70% of patients received a prior CDK4/6 inhibitor.

Truqap
Truqap is a first-in-class, potent, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-competitive inhibitor of all three AKT isoforms (AKT1/2/3). Truqap 400mg is administered twice daily according to an intermittent dosing schedule of four days on and three days off. This was chosen in early phase trials based on tolerability and the degree of target inhibition.

Truqap is approved in Japan, the US and several other countries for the treatment of adult patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with one or more biomarker alterations (PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN) following recurrence or progression on or after an endocrine-based regimen based on the results from the CAPItello-291 trial.

Truqap is currently being evaluated in Phase III trials for the treatment of multiple subtypes of breast cancer and in other tumour types in combination with established treatments. The ongoing clinical research programme is focused on tumours reliant on signalling via the PI3K/AKT pathway, and in tumours harbouring biomarker alterations in this pathway.

Truqap was discovered by AstraZeneca subsequent to a collaboration with Astex Therapeutics (and its collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research and Cancer Research Technology Limited).

Faslodex
Faslodex is an endocrine therapy indicated for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women not previously treated with endocrine therapy, or with disease relapse on or after adjuvant anti-estrogen therapy, or disease progression on anti-estrogen therapy.

In the US, EU and Japan, Faslodex is also approved in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors for the treatment of women with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, whose cancer has progressed after endocrine medicine. Faslodex represents a hormonal treatment approach that helps to slow tumour growth by blocking and degrading the estrogen receptor – a key driver of disease progression.

Faslodex is approved as monotherapy or in combination with medicines from various drug classes including CDK4/6, PI3K and AKT inhibitors for the treatment of patients with HR-positive advanced breast cancer and is being evaluated in combination with medicines from other drug classes.

On April 29, 2024 Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ("Immutep" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel LAG-3 immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune disease, reported an update on the ongoing development of its product candidates, eftilagimod alpha (efti) and IMP761 for the quarter ended 31 March 2024 (Q3 FY24) (Press release, Immutep, APR 29, 2024, View Source [SID1234642403]).

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EFTI DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CANCER

TACTI-002 (KEYNOTE-PN798) – Phase II clinical trial in 1L NSCLC The TACTI-002 trial is ongoing with Immutep continuing to follow patients with 1L NSCLC (Part A) where, encouragingly, a median Overall Survival has not yet been reached in patients with high PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥50%). As previously reported at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2023, excellent median Overall Survival rates were seen across all levels of PD-L1 expression, including in patients expressing any PD-L1 (patients with a Tumor Proportion Score [TPS] of >1%) and patients with low PD-L1 expression (TPS 1-49%), with 35.5 months and 23.4 months reported respectively. Immutep has previously reported final data from Parts B and C of the TACTI-002 trial.

TACTI-003 (KEYNOTE-PNC34) – Phase IIb clinical trial in 1L HNSCC The TACTI-003 multicenter Phase IIb trial evaluating efti in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) is ongoing with a total of 171 first line head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (1L HNSCC) patients enrolled. Cohort A evaluating efti in combination with KEYTRUDA as compared to KEYTRUDA monotherapy (randomised) involves 138 patients with PD-L1 positive (Combined Positive Score [CPS] ≥1) tumours and Cohort B (non-randomised) includes 33 patients with PD-L1 negative tumours.

Subsequent to quarter end Immutep announced positive preliminary topline results from Cohort B. The investigational immuno-oncology combination demonstrates an overall response rate (ORR) of 26.9% and disease control rate (DCR) of 57.7% in 26 evaluable patients whose tumours do not express PD-L1 (CPS<1), according to RECIST 1.1, which compares favourably to historical controls.

The final number of evaluable patients in Cohort B is expected to be higher and additional data, including complete response rate, is expected to be released together with Cohort A data. Data collection, cleaning, and analysis continue for TACTI-003, and the Company expects to report the primary endpoint (overall response rate according to RECIST1.1) from Cohorts A & B in H1 CY2024.

TACTI-004 – Phase III registrational trial in 1L NSCLC Immutep continued to advance the necessary preparations for the Phase III TACTI-004 trial in first line nonsmall cell lung cancer (1L NSCLC) during the quarter. Productive interactions with regulatory agencies as well as with other stakeholders and potential partners are ongoing. Immutep expects to announce the trial design for TACTI-004 in H1 CY2024.

AIPAC-003 – Integrated Phase II/III trial in MBC Immutep announced the first clinical data from the 90mg dosing of efti, the highest dose ever administered to patients, from patients participating in the safety lead-in of the AIPAC-003 trial in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Data from the six patients in the safety lead-in showed the 90mg dose of efti in combination with paclitaxel is safe and well tolerated. The initial efficacy data was also encouraging, with a 50% overall response rate, including one patient reporting a complete response (complete disappearance of all lesions), and a 100% disease control rate. The trial has proceeded to the randomised Phase II portion of study consisting of up to 58 evaluable patients who will receive 30mg efti or 90mg efti to determine the optimal biological dose of efti in combination with paclitaxel. Currently, 34 patients have been dosed in the randomised part. Further updates from AIPAC-003 will be provided in CY2024.

INSIGHT-003 – Phase I in non-squamous 1L NSCLC The investigator-initiated INSIGHT-003 trial continued to enrol patients throughout the quarter, with 38 out of a total of 50 patients enrolled and safely dosed across six sites in Germany. INSIGHT-003 evaluates a triple combination therapy consisting of efti and an approved standard of care combination of chemotherapy (carboplatin and pemetrexed) and anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) in patients as first line treatment in non-squamous NSCLC adenocarcinomas.

INSIGHT-005 – Phase I trial in Urothelial Carcinoma The first patient in the investigator-initiated INSIGHT-005 trial was enrolled and safely dosed, as announced in January 2024. The study is evaluating efti and the anti-PD-L1 therapy BAVENCIO (avelumab) in up to 30 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer and is jointly funded with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

EFTISARC-NEO – Phase II Trial in Soft Tissue Sarcoma The investigator-initiated EFTISARC-NEO trial is ongoing with 14 patients now enrolled and safely dosed. The study evaluates efti in combination with pembrolizumab and radiotherapy in up to 40 soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients in the neoadjuvant (prior to surgery) setting.

IMP761 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

IMP761 is the Company’s proprietary preclinical candidate and world’s first LAG-3 agonist that aims to treat the underlying cause of multiple autoimmune diseases. Throughout the quarter, Immutep progressed its preclinical development and IND-enabling toxicology studies for IMP761 to evaluate the safety and toxicity of its product candidate before entering first-in-human trials. Subsequent to quarter end, Immutep entered into an agreement with the Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR), a world-class institute in Leiden, the Netherlands specializing in cutting-edge early-stage clinical drug research, to perform a first-in-human clinical study of IMP761, which it expects to begin mid-CY2024.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE (GSK)-IMP731 (GSK2831781)

As detailed in Immutep’s half year report in February 2024, Immutep received from GSK a written notice of termination of its exclusive License and Research Collaboration Agreement with GSK entered into in 2010 for the development of GSK2831781, a LAG-3 depleting antibody derived from Immutep’s IMP731 antibody, targeting autoimmune disease, with an effective termination date of 30 May 2024. The Company expects no material impact on the financial statements due to the termination.

CORPORATE & FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Board Appointment

In February 2024, Anne Anderson was appointed as an independent non-executive director of Immutep Limited. Ms Anderson has extensive board and leadership experience serving Australian and international companies and brings considerable capability across capital markets, risk management and governance to Immutep’s Board.

Cash Flow Summary

During the quarter, Immutep continued to fund the advancement of its clinical trial programs for efti and preclinical program for IMP761 to create value for shareholders. The Company is well funded with a strong cash and cash equivalent balance as at 31 March 2024 of approximately $95.4 million, giving it an expected cash reach into early CY2026.

Cash receipts from customers in Q3 FY24 were $14k, compared to $38k in Q2 FY24. The net cash used in G&A activities in the quarter was $0.7 million, compared to $0.8 million in Q2 FY24. Payments of $310k to Related Parties (detailed in Item 6 of the Appendix 4C) comprises Non-Executive Directors’ fees and Executive Directors’ remuneration.

The net cash used in R&D activities in the quarter was $6.9 million, which is consistent with Q2 FY24. Payment for staff costs was $2.0 million in the quarter compared to $2.2 million last quarter.

Total net cash outflows used in operating activities in the quarter was $9.0 million compared to $5.5 million in Q2 FY24. This difference was mainly due to the receipt of $3.8 million in R&D tax grants in Q2 FY24.

A copy of the Appendix 4C-Quarterly Cash Flow Report for the quarter is attached.

On April 26, 2024 Arbele, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immunotherapies targeted for advanced gastrointestinal cancers, reported the positive recommendation from the second meeting of the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) to continue the A001 Phase I clinical trial evaluating cabotamig (ARB202) in patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers without modification to the trial protocol (Press release, ARBELE, APR 26, 2024, View Source [SID1234642400]). The DMC, composed of a group of independent experts, arrived at this recommendation after review of the interim safety data of patients enrolled in the A001 trial.

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This safety assessment was based on the review of safety data from 18 patients, including patients that have been treated with multiple doses of cabotamig. This positive recommendation confirms tolerability profile of cabotamig is consistent with published safety data of T-cells engagers in other indications.

"We are greatly indebted to the courageous subjects who have participated in this early study of cabotamig that have allowed us better understand the safety profile while optimizing the dosing of this promising therapy" said Dr Dennis Wong, Chief Medical Officer at Arbele.

About A001 Trial

The A001 trial is a multi-center, open label, FIH continuous study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, PD, and anti-tumor activity of cabotamig administered intravenously in patients with unresponsive advanced GI malignancies expressing CDH17. The first part of the study consists of a dose-escalation stage (single ascending doses (SAD) Phase Ia) enrolling approximately 28 patients, and then a multiple dose ascending/ranging study (MAD).

Except for colorectal cancer patients, all other patients are screened for tumors expressing CDH17 using TibTech proprietary automated tissue diagnostic platform. If CDH17 is expressed, patients will be eligible to enter screening to be dosed. Colorectal cancer patients may be eligible without CDH17 marker testing.

For more information about A001, visit View Source

About Cabotamig

ARB202 is a first-in-class bispecific antibody based on Arbele’s patented CDH17 biomarker. It targets both CDH17 on GI cancer as well as CD3 on T cells. The unique differential binding affinities of ARB202 toward CDH17 and CD3 allows it to have high specificity and cytotoxicity, while avoiding the "on-target" normal CDH17 expressing cells. Preclinical data showed that ARB202 can facilitate T-cell attachment to cancer cells, activation and release of IL-2, thereby demonstrating target engagement activation and cytotoxicity.

About CDH17

Cadherin-17 (CDH17) is an adhesion molecule that binds to self and integrin α2β1. Its expression in humans is limited to gastrointestinal tissue, most studied in the adherens junctions along with E-cadherin on the basal lateral surface of colon epithelial cells. Its expression is tightly regulated and believed to be involved in the tight control of solutes between epithelial cells in the gut which prevents the movement of water and proteins into the lumen. Its aberrant expression at the cell surface in GI neoplastic cells has been well documented. CDH17 has been shown to be involved in cancer progression and is associated with poor prognosis. The soluble form, sCDH17 was previously found to increase with tumor staging and decrease with tumor debulking. Given CDH17 is expressed de novo or overexpressed at abnormally levels in GI cancers including CRC, GEJ, CCA, and PDAC, it provides a way to target T-cells to GI malignant cells within a suppressive tumor micro-environment.

On April 26, 2024 Ractigen Therapeutics, a leader in the development of small activating RNA (saRNA) therapeutics, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application for RAG-01, a groundbreaking saRNA therapy targeting non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) (Press release, Ractigen, APR 26, 2024, View Source [SID1234642399]). This approval facilitates the launch of U.S. clinical trials, following the successful initiation of a Phase I trial in Australia.

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RAG-01 is a pioneering therapy in bladder cancer treatment, representing the first of its kind to specifically target and activate the p21 tumor suppressor gene. This gene is critical in regulating cell cycle progression and is a key component in stopping the growth of cancer cells. By activating p21, RAG-01 offers a targeted approach to potentially curb the progression of NMIBC, a prevalent form of bladder cancer.

"FDA IND approval for RAG-01 is a major achievement for Ractigen and a significant advancement for saRNA technology worldwide," said Dr. Long-Cheng Li, Founder and CEO of Ractigen Therapeutics. "This first-in-class saRNA therapy harnesses the power of RNAa to target the p21 gene, offering a promising new option for patients with limited treatment choices. This approval validates the potential of RAG-01 as a leading saRNA therapy and strengthens our position as innovators in RNA-based treatments."

About RAG-01: RAG-01 is a pioneering saRNA candidate engineered to target and activate the tumor suppressor gene p21 via the mechanism of RNAa. Traditionally considered "undruggable," p21 presents a unique opportunity for saRNA-based targeted activation. The drug, delivered through intravesical instillation using Ractigen’s proprietary LiCO delivery technology, has shown significant tumor suppression in mouse orthotopic bladder cancer models. Currently, the Phase I clinical trial of RAG-01 in Australia has successfully enrolled and dosed the first three patients. Its development marks a significant stride in RNAa based therapies, addressing the unmet needs of NMIBC patients.

About NMIBC: NMIBC represents 50-80% of all bladder cancer cases. Despite standard treatments like transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by intravesical BCG or chemotherapy, recurrence rates remain high, estimated at 50-70% within the first five years. RAG-01’s development is a significant step towards addressing this substantial unmet need in bladder cancer therapy.

About LiCO: LiCO, Ractigen’s proprietary extra-hepatic delivery system, enables the delivery of duplex RNA into a variety of tissues and organs which are hard to reach by conventional approach. It supports multiple administration routes, including subcutaneous, intravenous, intravesical, and intravitreal, providing profound and durable activity. Its versatility and effectiveness have been validated in many preclinical studies, marking it as a cornerstone in Ractigen’s therapeutic arsenal.

About RNAa: Pioneered by Dr. Long-Cheng Li and his team, RNAa is a clinically validated platform technology. It employs saRNA to target gene regulatory domains, activating gene expression and restoring therapeutic protein levels. This technology has vast potential for developing therapeutic drugs across various diseases, especially where traditional methods fall short, including cancer, genetic disorders, chronic diseases, and metabolic and cerebrovascular disorders.