On December 3, 2025 Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNX) reported the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1/2 study evaluating CRN09682 in patients with metastatic or locally advanced somatostatin receptor type 2 (SST2)-positive neuroendocrine tumors and other SST2-expressing solid tumors. CRN09682 is the lead candidate from Crinetics’ proprietary nonpeptide drug conjugate (NDC) platform, which leverages the company’s expertise in GPCR drug discovery and small molecule design to develop a pipeline of modular targeted therapies for endocrine and endocrine-related tumors.
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"We developed CRN09682 to address the need for a more efficacious, safer, and convenient targeted therapy for patients with SST2-expressing tumors," said Stephen Betz, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder of Crinetics. "Dosing the first patient in the Phase 1/2 study marks a major milestone for CRN09682 and our NDC platform as a whole. CRN09682 is the first clinical exploration of this new modality, which we believe has the potential to unlock a new generation of receptor-targeted therapies to treat tumors with precision."
CRN09682 was designed to bind selectively and with high potency to SST2-expressing tumor cells, promoting rapid receptor internalization and linker cleavage to release a potent cytotoxic payload directly within the tumor. This targeted approach is intended to concentrate treatment at the tumor site, by optimizing tumor penetration and limiting systemic exposure and related toxicities. NDCs are manufactured by traditional chemical synthesis methods, eliminating manufacturing constraints and specialized handling required by most antibody drug conjugates and radiopharmaceuticals.
The Phase 1/2 BRAVESST2 trial is a first-in-human, open-label, dose-escalation study with a dose expansion phase designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of CRN09682. The Phase 1 portion will enroll patients in escalating dose cohorts to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose for the expansion phase. Phase 2 will further evaluate and characterize CRN09682 in selected SST2-expressing tumor types. Up to 150 participants are expected to be enrolled across both phases. Eligible patients must have metastatic or locally advanced disease progression following standard therapies and SST2-expressing tumors confirmed by somatostatin receptor imaging.
For more information about the BRAVESST2 trial, visit https://bit.ly/4hMl8qc
ABOUT CRN09682
CRN09682 is an investigational, first-in-class, non-radioactive, nonpeptide drug conjugate (NDC) linking a somatostatin receptor 2 (SST2) agonist with the cytotoxic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a spacer and a cleavable linker for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and other solid tumors that express SST2. The ligand on the CRN09682 binds to SST2 on the tumor cell surface and is internalized into the cell whereby enzymes cleave the MMAE and release it within the cell. MMAE is known to cause microtubule disruption leading to cell arrest and death. The NDC approach is intended to enhance tumor penetration and intracellularly release a potent anti-tumor agent, while minimizing systemic exposure and associated toxicities. Additionally, NDCs are manufactured by traditional chemical synthesis methods, avoiding the limitations of fermentation, bioconjugation, and heterogeneous manufacturing methods required by most antibody drug conjugates. NETs are generally incurable when metastatic, regardless of tumor grade. Overall survival rates vary significantly by stage, grade, age at diagnosis, primary site, and time period of diagnosis.
(Press release, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, DEC 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234661097])