Cidara Therapeutics Provides Corporate Update and Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

On November 7, 2024 Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDTX) (the Company), a biotechnology company using its proprietary Cloudbreak platform to develop drug-Fc conjugate (DFC) immunotherapies designed to save lives and improve the standard of care for patients facing serious diseases, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024, and provided an update on its corporate activities and product pipeline (Press release, Cidara Therapeutics, NOV 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234647924]).

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"The recent initiation of our Phase 2b NAVIGATE clinical trial, which will evaluate the efficacy and safety of CD388 for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of seasonal influenza, represents an important clinical achievement for our company," said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Cidara. "Additionally, the realignment of our organization will ensure the most efficient use of our resources, enabling us to focus on advancing our promising CD388 clinical program. Based on the compelling data generated to date, we believe CD388 has the potential to provide long-term protection against both seasonal and pandemic strains of influenza with a single dose per flu season."

Recent Corporate Highlights

Dosed first subjects in Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial evaluating efficacy and safety of CD388 for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of seasonal influenza. In September 2024, Cidara initiated a randomized, double-blind, controlled Phase 2b trial targeting enrollment of 5,000 healthy, unvaccinated adult subjects who are not at risk of complications from influenza. Three CD388 dose groups and one placebo group are being randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio and we administered CD388 at the beginning of this influenza season. Subjects will be followed for the remainder of the influenza season to monitor for breakthrough cases. Rates of laboratory and clinically confirmed influenza will be compared between subjects receiving the various single doses of CD388 or placebo. The study includes sites in the U.S. and UK.
Highlighted CD388 in two presentations at the 2024 IDWeek Conference. In October 2024, positive Phase 2a human challenge study data were presented in an oral presentation, which demonstrated that a single subcutaneous dose of CD388 administered five days prior to influenza challenge was shown to be effective in preventing symptomatic disease. Positive first-in-human data from a Phase 1 trial studying the safety and PK of CD388 administered by intramuscular and subcutaneous injection were also presented. The results showed that CD388 was rapidly absorbed to achieve target exposure levels and slowly eliminated, regardless of administration route, with no concerning safety signals, supporting the potential for a single dose of CD388 per flu season.
Highlighted CD388 in an oral and poster presentation at the 2024 OPTIONS XII for the Control of Influenza conference. Phase 1 and Phase 2a safety data from three clinical trials on the Company’s CD388 asset were presented in oral presentation format, and pharmacokinetics and safety of CD388 following subcutaneous administration in healthy Japanese participants were presented. Overall, results were consistent with a previous Phase 1 clinical study in Western participants. CD388 injection was well tolerated, and the data support further clinical studies with CD388 in the Japanese population for the prevention of seasonal influenza.
Strengthened Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with four infectious disease experts. In September 2024, Rick Bright, Ph.D., Philip Krause, M.D., Mario Barro, Ph.D., and Frederick Hayden, M.D., FACP, were appointed to the Company’s SAB. The new members’ collective expertise working in infectious diseases including influenza, pandemic preparedness, and clinical and regulatory processes will be instrumental as Cidara conducts its CD388 Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial.
Appointed Jim Beitel as Chief Business Officer. In August 2024, Jim Beitel joined Cidara as Chief Business Officer. Mr. Beitel brings over 20 years of experience in life science corporate development, including strategy, business development, commercialization, finance, and other roles.
Restructured workforce to focus on planned clinical development of CD388. In September 2024, Cidara announced an approximate 30% reduction in workforce to focus on the clinical development of its novel DFC candidate for influenza A and B, CD388. This restructuring is expected to substantially reduce Cidara’s capital needs related to recurring personnel costs.
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $127.4 million as of September 30, 2024, compared with $35.8 million as of December 31, 2023.
Revenue was zero and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $9.2 million and $20.5 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. Revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 related to research and development and clinical supply services provided to J&J Innovative Medicine, previously Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), under our license and collaboration agreement with Janssen (the Janssen Collaboration Agreement). The Janssen Collaboration Agreement was terminated upon the effectiveness of our license and technology transfer agreement with Janssen (the Janssen License Agreement) on April 24, 2024.
Acquired in-process research and development expenses were $84.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and related to an upfront payment of $85.0 million paid to Janssen under the Janssen License Agreement, on April 24, 2024, plus $0.4 million in direct transaction costs, offset by a settlement gain of $0.5 million to settle the preexisting Janssen Collaboration Agreement relationship.
Research and development expenses were $12.4 million and $25.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $10.4 million and $28.8 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The increase in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily due to higher expenses associated with our CD388 Phase 2b NAVIGATE study and higher personnel costs, including $1.2 million for severance payments and employee benefits related to a reduction in force, offset by lower nonclinical expenses associated with our Cloudbreak platform. The decrease in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023 is primarily due to lower nonclinical expenses associated with our Cloudbreak platform, offset by higher expenses associated with our CD388 Phase 2b NAVIGATE study and higher personnel costs, including $1.2 million for severance payments and employee benefits related to a reduction in force.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $5.0 million and $13.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, compared to $3.3 million and $10.1 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively. The SG&A expenses for all periods primarily relate to consulting, personnel and legal costs.
On April 24, 2024, Cidara entered into an asset purchase agreement with Napp Pharmaceutical Group Limited (Napp) an affiliate of Mundipharma Medical Company, pursuant to which we sold to Napp all of our rezafungin assets and related contracts. We completed all conditions of the sale on April 24, 2024. We determined that the sale of rezafungin represented a strategic shift that will have a major effect on our operations and financial results. Accordingly, the sale of rezafungin is classified as discontinued operations. We have separately reported the financial results of rezafungin as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for all periods presented. Net loss from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024, was $0.5 million and net income from discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $0.4 million, compared to net loss from discontinued operations of $5.3 million and $2.8 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively.

Net loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $16.0 million and $117.5 million, respectively, compared to a net loss of $9.1 million and $19.7 million for the same periods in 2023, respectively.
On July 18, 2024, the Company’s stockholders approved the issuance of up to 16,800,000 shares of common stock upon conversion of 240,000 shares of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock issued in our private placement completed in April 2024. On July 19, 2024, the Company issued 2,469,250 shares of common stock upon automatic conversion of 35,275 shares of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Cidara did not sell any shares of common stock pursuant to its at-the-market sales agreement.

As of September 30, 2024, Cidara had 7,046,633 shares of common stock outstanding, 204,725 shares of Series A Convertible Voting Preferred Stock outstanding, which are convertible into 14,330,750 shares of common stock, and 2,104,472 shares of Series X Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, which are convertible into 1,052,236 shares of common stock, for a total of 22,429,619 shares of common stock equivalents outstanding.

Nkarta Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Corporate Highlights

On November 7, 2024 Nkarta, Inc. (Nasdaq: NKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered natural killer (NK) cell therapies, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 (Press release, Nkarta, NOV 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234647941]).

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"We’re encouraged by the early progress that we’ve made in the clinical investigation of NKX019 for autoimmune disease," said Paul J. Hastings, CEO of Nkarta. "Having dosed a first patient in both Ntrust-1 and the Columbia University Irving Medical Center IST, our learnings can help us optimize the execution of our current and future clinical trials. This includes our Ntrust-2 trial, which is on track to initiate enrollment later this year. Safety and accessibility are paramount in autoimmune disease, and we believe that an off-the-shelf, engineered NK cell therapy has the greatest potential to help patients."

Hastings continued, "We have decided to forgo future development of NKX019 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In reviewing the clinical data from the latest cohort of patients with large B-cell lymphoma and the evolving treatment landscape, Nkarta will focus its efforts on autoimmune diseases, where we believe NKX019 has potential to transform patient care."

Clinical development of NKX019 for autoimmune diseases advances


Dosing of the first patient in Ntrust-1, a clinical trial of NKX019 for the treatment of lupus nephritis. As previously announced, the first Ntrust-1 patient entered screening in June 2024.


Dosing of the first patient in the IST of NKX019 in systemic lupus erythematosus at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC). As previously announced, the CUIMC IST was initiated in July 2024.

Both studies continue to enroll participants.

Anticipated autoimmune milestones 2024-2025


Initiation of patient enrollment expected by year-end 2024 in Ntrust-2, a clinical trial of NKX019 for the treatment of systemic sclerosis, myositis and vasculitis. As previously announced, the Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for Ntrust-2 cleared in June 2024.

Preliminary clinical data from Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2 clinical trials planned for 2025.

Update for NKX019 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)


A cohort of seven patients with heavily pretreated large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) whose disease progressed following treatment with a CD19 CAR T-cell therapy received NKX019 on Days 0, 3, and 7 following lymphodepletion.

There were no cases of Grade >2 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and no cases of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity (ICANS).

Five patients achieved a partial response after a first cycle of treatment. One of these five patients achieved a complete response with >6 months durability after receiving a second cycle of treatment.

Nkarta aims to report final data from the LBCL cohort at a future medical conference.

Nkarta will forgo further development in NHL and prioritize development efforts on autoimmune diseases.

Third Quarter 2024 and Recent Financial Highlights


Nkarta had cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and investments in marketable securities of $405.3 million as of September 30, 2024.

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $25.3 million for the third quarter of 2024. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense included in R&D expense was $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2024.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $8.5 million for the third quarter of 2024. Non-cash stock-based compensation expense included in G&A expense was $2.3 million for the third quarter of 2024.

Net loss was $28.3 million, or $0.39 per basic and diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024. This net loss includes non-cash charges of $5.8 million that consisted primarily of share-based compensation and depreciation expenses.

Financial Guidance


Nkarta expects its current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan into late 2027.

About NKX019

NKX019 is an allogeneic, cryopreserved, off-the-shelf immunotherapy candidate that uses natural killer (NK) cells derived from the peripheral blood of healthy adult donors. It is engineered with a humanized CD19-directed CAR for enhanced cell targeting and a proprietary, membrane-bound form of interleukin-15 (IL-15) for greater persistence and activity without exogenous cytokine support. CD19 is a biomarker for normal B cells as well as those implicated in autoimmune disease and B cell-derived malignancies.

About Ntrust Clinical Trials in Autoimmune Disease

Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2 are multi-center, open label, dose escalation clinical trials that build on academic studies of durable, drug-free remissions in patients with autoimmune disease after CD19-targeted cell therapy. Both trials will assess the safety of NKX019 in people living with autoimmune diseases as well as its ability to enable long-term remissions via a "reset" of the immune system through the elimination of pathogenic B cells. Per the trial protocols, patients receive three-dose cycles of NKX019 at 1 billion or 1.5 billion cells per dose following single-agent lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide, an agent with an established safety profile across autoimmune diseases. Leveraging the engineering of NKX019, no patients in either trial will receive supplemental cytokines or antibody-based therapeutics. This approach is designed to evaluate the single-agent activity of NKX019 and facilitate a more rapid path to regulatory approval.

In the Ntrust-1 study (NCT06557265), patients with refractory lupus nephritis receive three-dose cycles of NKX019 following lymphodepletion. Patients in Ntrust-1 may also receive additional cycles to restore response.

Once initiated, Ntrust-2 will enroll patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (myositis), and ANCA-associated vasculitis into parallel cohorts, and NKX019 will be dosed on Days 0, 3, and 7, a regimen that may be advantageous across all Nkarta clinical trials. Each trial is designed to initially enroll up to 12 patients.

About the Investigator-Sponsored Clinical Trial of NKX019 for Systemic Lupus Nephritis

The single-center, single-arm, open-label Phase 1 investigator-sponsored clinical trial is designed to enroll up to 6 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, regardless of renal involvement, and will evaluate safety and clinical outcomes in a potentially different population than Ntrust-1. Translational and biomarker studies, including autoantibodies, cytokine profiles and pharmacokinetics are also planned. Patients receive NKX019 following single-agent lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide. The clinical trial is being led by Anca D. Askanase, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Lupus Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Director of Rheumatology Clinical Trials.

Rezolute Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

On November 7, 2024 Rezolute, Inc. (Nasdaq: RZLT) ("Rezolute" or the "Company"), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for rare diseases with serious unmet needs, reported financial results and provided a business update for the three months ended September 30, 2024 (Press release, Rezolute, NOV 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234647969]).

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"Execution across our two Phase 3 programs in patients with congenital HI and tumor HI will be the focus going into 2025," said Nevan Elam, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Rezolute. "We are pleased with the progress we’ve made in sunRIZE enrollment and look forward to advancing our Phase 3 study in tumor HI patients based on the success demonstrated in our Expanded Access Program. As a rare disease company with two late-stage clinical trials, we recognize how critical 2025 will be in progressing our programs in order to provide a potentially meaningful therapy for patients where limited options currently exist."

Recent Pipeline Progress and Anticipated Milestones

Congenital HI

· Ex-U.S. patient enrollment in sunRIZE, a global, pivotal Phase 3 clinical study for ersodetug in patients with congenital HI, is on track.
· Study start-up activities are underway for enrollment of U.S. participants in early 2025.
· Topline results from sunRIZE expected in the second half of 2025.

Tumor HI

· Start-up activities are progressing for the Phase 3 registrational study for ersodetug in patients with tumor HI.
· Patient enrollment anticipated to begin in the first half of 2025.
· Topline results expected in the second half of 2026.

Fiscal First Quarter Financial Results

Cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities were $117.8 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $127.1 million as of June 30, 2024.

Research and development expenses were $12.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, compared with $12.2 million for the same period a year ago, with the increase primarily attributable to increased expenditures in clinical trial activities, manufacturing costs and higher personnel-related expenses, which include employee compensation.

General and administrative expenses were $4.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, compared with $3.7 million for the same period a year ago, with the increase primarily attributable to professional fees and employee-related expenses as a result of increased headcount.

Net loss was $15.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared with a net loss of $14.5 million for the same period a year ago.

About Ersodetug

Ersodetug is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to a unique allosteric site on insulin receptors to counteract the effects of insulin receptor over-activation by insulin and related substances (such as IGF-2), thereby improving hypoglycemia in the setting of hyperinsulinism (HI). Because ersodetug acts downstream from the pancreas, it has the potential to be universally effective at treating hypoglycemia due to any form of HI.

About sunRIZE

The Phase 3 sunRIZE study is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel arm study designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ersodetug in patients with congenital HI who are experiencing poorly controlled hypoglycemia. Participants between the ages of 3 months to 45 years old are eligible to participate. The study is enrolling up to 56 participants in more than a dozen countries around the world.

BPGbio to Present Transformative Immuno-Oncology Research on BPM31510 and BRG399 at SITC 2024

On November 7, 2024 BPGbio, Inc., a leading biology-first, AI-powered clinical-stage biopharma company focused on mitochondrial biology and protein homeostasis, reported that it will present three scientific posters at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting, taking place November 6-10, 2024, in Houston, Texas (Press release, BPGbio, NOV 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234647992]). The posters will highlight the latest research on the company’s drug candidates BPM31510 and BRG399 in the immuno-oncology space, providing further validation and paving the way for new potential therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment.

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In the first study, titled "The Anti-tumor Response of BPM31510 is Associated with Immune Cell Regulation in the Tumor Microenvironment," researchers showed that BPM31510 significantly increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cancer cells, leading to cell death across multiple cancer types. They also identified that, BPM31510 can boost the activity of cytotoxic tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and reduce markers of T cell exhaustion. This dual action gives it the potential to be especially effective in treating "immunologically cold" tumors, such as glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer.

The second study, titled "BRG399, a Novel Oral Microtubule Binding Agent, Induces Tumor Regression and Immune Memory in an Orthotopic Glioblastoma Rat Model," found that BRG399 treatment leads to glioblastoma tumor regression, with 100% survival in treated rats. BRG399 also induces an immune memory response, preventing the recurrence of tumors when surviving rats are re-challenged with glioma cancer cells.

The third study, titled, "BRG399, a Novel Oral Microtubule Binding Agent, Exhibits Immune-Modulatory Properties Enhancing Anti-Tumor Responses," showed that BRG399 alters the immune cell composition within the tumor microenvironment and blood. BRG399 also reduced markers of T cell exhaustion, suggesting that it can reinvigorate immune responses against tumors. These findings suggest that BRG399 should be further investigated as a potential component of cancer therapy, particularly when combined with immunotherapies, as it can both kill cancer cells and enhance immune activity.

"These compounds – BPM31510 and BRG399 – push the boundaries of what’s possible in cancer therapy, showing that we can not only attack the tumor but also empower the body’s immune system to keep fighting long after the treatment ends," said Stephane Gesta, Ph.D., VP, Discovery and Translational Biology at BPGbio. "As we advance BRG399 through preclinical trials and approach the completion of BPM31510’s Phase 2b study, we will continue leveraging our NAi Interrogative Biology Platform to gain additional insight for exploring new therapeutic opportunities for other diseases."

Poster Presentation Details:

The Anti-Tumor Response of BPM31510 Is Associated with Immune Cell Regulation in the Tumor Microenvironment
Date and Time: November 8, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CST
Location: Exhibit Halls A B, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
Presenter: Maria-Dorothea Nastke, Ph.D.
Abstract Number: 1312

BRG399, a Novel Oral Microtubule Binding Agent, Induces Tumor Regression and Immune Memory in an Orthotopic Glioblastoma Rat Model
Date and Time: November 9, 2024, 2:00 p.m. CST
Location: Exhibit Halls A B, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
Presenter: Maria-Dorothea Nastke, Ph.D.
Abstract Number: 1313

BRG399, a Novel Oral Microtubule-Binding Agent, Exhibits Immune-Modulatory Properties Enhancing Anti-Tumor Responses
Date and Time: November 9, 2024, 3:00 p.m. CST
Location: Exhibit Halls A B, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas
Presenter: Kaila Bennett, Ph.D.
Abstract Number: 1284
About BPM31510

BPM31510 is BPGbio’s lead candidate in late-stage development for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and pancreatic cancer. The compound has demonstrated a tolerable safety profile and shown potential clinical benefit in both populations. The mechanism of action of BPM31510 was first validated by data from BPGbio’s NAi Interrogative Biology platform, which suggested that there is a hallmark shift in the tumor microenvironment (TME) induced by BPM31510 which modulates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in highly aggressive tumors. BPGbio has received FDA’s Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for BPM31510IV for primary CoQ10 deficiency and BPM31510T for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) .

About BRG399

BRG399 is a BPGbio-developed candidate being studied for its therapeutic potential as a treatment for solid and liquid tumor cancers as well as diseases associated with neutrophil-driven inflammation. This experimental drug, a first-in-class, anti-tubulin agent with broad-spectrum anti-cancer activity and favorable pharmacological properties including oral bioavailability for clinical testing. BRG399 is leading the new oncology drug pipeline for BPGbio among other drug candidates which uniquely target the colchicine binding pocket in tubulin.

Onchilles Pharma Presents New Preclinical Data for the Systemically Delivered NEU-002 Program Targeting the ELANE Pathway at SITC 2024

On November 7, 2024 Onchilles Pharma, a private biotech company pioneering pan-cancer therapeutics that leverage the ELANE pathway, reported the presentation of new preclinical data from its NEU-002 program at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) (Press release, Onchilles Pharma, NOV 7, 2024, View Source [SID1234647942]). The event is being held virtually and at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas from November 6-10, 2024.

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The ELANE pathway is a novel innate immune mechanism that enables potent and selective immunogenic cell death of cancer cells irrespective of immunotype, genotype, anatomical origin while sparing healthy tissue. Onchilles Pharma has leveraged this pathway to develop N17350 and NEU-002, two leading therapeutic candidates designed for intratumoral and intravenous (IV) administration, respectively. N17350 is on track to start Phase 1 clinical trials in 2025 to validate the ELANE pathway in head & neck, skin, breast, and lung cancers.

At SITC (Free SITC Whitepaper) 2024, Onchilles Pharma presented new preclinical data on NEU-002, which allows targeting the ELANE pathway through systemic delivery. NEU-002 addresses the challenges of systemic delivery by overcoming inhibition from serine protease inhibitors and enhancing substrate specificity, thereby extending its potential to treat a broad range of solid tumor types that are well-suited for systemic administration.

Key Preclinical Data Highlights:

Enhanced Specificity and Activity: NEU-002 retains full enzymatic activity in plasma and shows improved substrate specificity, effectively cleaving CD95, its therapeutic target, while sparing known off-target substrates.
Selective Cancer Cell Killing: The NEU-002 candidates selectively induce immunogenic cell death in primary cancer cells derived from ovarian cancer patients, validating their selective killing properties in primary human tissue.
Durable Responses: In preclinical studies using the CT26 tumor mouse model, NEU-002 treatment generated complete responses with resistance to tumor rechallenge, suggesting the potential for immune memory formation.
"The data presented today mark a significant advancement in the systemic targeting of the ELANE pathway," said Lev Becker, Ph.D., Scientific Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Onchilles Pharma. "The ability to selectively target cancer cells while inducing a sustained immune response could provide durable clinical benefits across a wide range of tumor types."

Court R. Turner, J.D., Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, added, "N17350 and NEU-002 represent a transformative approach in oncology, with the potential to redefine the standard of care. We are excited about advancing N17350 into a Phase 1 trial in 2025, providing the clinical proof-of-concept for targeting the ELANE pathway and delivering innovative cancer treatments to patients."

To download the poster, click here.

About the NEU-002 Program and the ELANE Pathway

Onchilles Pharma’s NEU-002 program stems from groundbreaking research by its scientific founder, Dr. Lev Becker, who identified the ELANE pathway as a novel innate immune mechanism where neutrophil elastase (ELANE) selectively kills cancer cells while sparing healthy cells. Published in Cell in 2021, these findings have laid the foundation for developing NEU-002, which is tailored for systemic IV delivery, and N17350, designed for intratumoral administration. By leveraging the ELANE pathway, these candidates offer a unique approach to treat cancer regardless of genetic background, anatomical origin, or immunotype, positioning them as potential game-changers in cancer therapy.

Looking Ahead: Clinical Validation in 2025

Onchilles Pharma plans to initiate a Phase 1 trial of its lead candidate, N17350, in 2025 to validate the ELANE pathway in humans. This trial will further explore the safety and efficacy of this innovative mechanism, representing a significant step toward realizing the potential of ELANE-based therapies.