On September 17, 2020 Boehringer Ingelheim and Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRTX) reported a clinical collaboration to evaluate the combination of BI 1701963, a SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor blocking KRAS independent of mutation type, and MRTX849, a KRAS G12C selective inhibitor in patients with solid tumors that harbor the KRAS G12C mutation (Press release, Boehringer Ingelheim, SEP 17, 2020, View Source [SID1234565282]). The collaboration will investigate the potential of this combination to provide more effective and durable responses for patients with lung and colorectal cancers who currently have limited treatment options.
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Preclinical data suggest that the combination of a KRAS G12C inhibitor with a SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor results in increased anti-tumor activity based on the complementary mechanisms of these targeted oncology agents. By shifting the equilibrium from active KRAS(ON) towards the inactive KRAS(OFF) form, SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitors have the potential to sensitize KRAS G12C mutant tumors to covalent KRAS G12C inhibitors that bind to KRAS(OFF).
"We look forward to collaborating with Boehringer Ingelheim to test this combination in clinical trials," said Joseph Leveque, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. "This collaboration is aligned with the broad and aggressive development strategy we have for MRTX849 and brings the potential for another therapeutic option to patients with KRAS G12C mutations."
"We are excited to partner with Mirati in our ambition to make a difference for people living with KRAS-driven cancers. Combining our SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor with the mutation specific G12C inhibitor could be a win-win approach enhancing the response to therapy," said Victoria Zazulina, M.D., Global Medical Head for Oncology at Boehringer Ingelheim. "We have a comprehensive KRAS program including the first SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor in the clinic, BI 1701963, for which we are exploring several combinations to optimize its therapeutic benefit in broad patient populations."
Under the terms of the non-exclusive collaboration, Mirati will be the sponsor of the trial and Boehringer Ingelheim and Mirati will jointly share the costs of and oversee clinical development for the combined therapy.
About MRTX849
MRTX849 is an investigational, orally available small molecule that is designed to potently and selectively inhibit a form of KRAS, which harbors a substitution mutation (G12C). KRAS G12C mutations are present in approximately 14% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma patients, in 3-4% of colorectal cancer patients, and in subsets of other types of cancer. Tumors characterized by KRAS G12C mutations are commonly associated with poor prognosis and resistance to therapy, and patients with these mutations have few treatment options. MRTX849 is being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 trial treating patients with molecularly identified, KRAS G12C-positive advanced solid tumors and in the first quarter of 2020, enrollment began in the registration enabling cohort in monotherapy NSCLC, colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer.
About BI 1701963
BI 1701963 is an investigational, orally available small molecule, that is designed to bind to the catalytic domain of SOS1 preventing the interaction with KRAS(OFF) and simultaneously blocking SOS1 driven feedback. This reduces the formation of KRAS(ON) and in consequence inhibits MAPK pathway signaling in KRAS-dependent cancers. The selective inhibition of SOS1 is a therapeutic concept that could allow KRAS blockade irrespective of KRAS mutation type (pan-KRAS approach). SOS1::KRAS inhibitors exhibit activity on a broad spectrum of KRAS alleles, including all major G12D/V/C and G13D oncoproteins, as recently published by Hofmann MH, et al. in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper). BI 1701963 is currently being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced KRAS-mutated cancers to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and preliminary efficacy of BI 1701963 alone and in combination with MEK inhibitors.