Vividion Therapeutics Doses First Patient in Phase I Study of RAS-PI3K? Inhibitor for Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors

On April 3, 2025 Vividion Therapeutics, Inc. (Vividion) reported that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I clinical trial evaluating VVD-159642, an investigational oral inhibitor designed to target RAS-driven cancers (Press release, Vividion Therapeutics, APR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234651791]). Vividion is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Bayer AG, utilizing innovative discovery technologies to unlock targets with strong disease-link, yet traditionally undruggable and develop small molecule precision therapeutics for devastating cancers and immune disorders.

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The new Phase I study (NCT06804824) will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary anti-tumor activity of VVD-159642 as a single agent and in combination with either sotorasib or trametinib in patients with advanced solid tumors.

"Despite being a major driver in approximately 20% of cancers, the RAS gene has proven exceptionally difficult to target with drugs, largely due to its essential role in the RAS-PI3Kα signaling pathway, which is vital for healthy cell function," said Jenna Goldberg, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Vividion. "VVD-159642 is designed and being studied to selectively prevent RAS activation of the PI3Kα pathway, thus blocking oncogenic signaling without disrupting normal cellular function. Preclinical studies of VVD-159642 give us confidence in its potential to inhibit tumor growth while avoiding the on-target toxicities that have limited prior attempts to drug this important target. In addition to providing a more tolerable alternative to current therapies, we believe that VVD-159642 has potential to treat a broad patient population, including in both RAS-mutant and HER2-overexpressed tumors, and may deliver increased efficacy in combination with other RAS/MAPK pathway inhibitors."

"We’re excited to bring our fourth innovative oncology asset into the clinic, which not only represents continued validation of Vividion’s covalent-first chemoproteomics platform but also provides a potential new treatment option for patients with RAS-driven cancers," said Aleksandra Rizo M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Vividion.

"The team at Vividion is rapidly advancing scientific innovations into clinical development that have the potential to address multiple devastating diseases not reachable by current therapies," said Christian Rommel, Ph.D., Head of Research and Development at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. "The initiation of this clinical trial marks a significant step forward in leveraging Vividion’s innovative drug discovery approach to target a highly relevant signaling pathway and bring a potential new treatment option to people suffering from difficult-to-treat cancers."

Vividion also has ongoing Phase I trials evaluating an oral KEAP1 activator in solid tumors and oral STAT3 inhibitor in solid and hematologic malignancies. The company is advancing multiple innovative drug discovery programs toward the clinic and has a rich pipeline of opportunities emerging in early discovery in the fields of oncology and immunology.

Quince Therapeutics to Present at Jones Healthcare and Technology Innovation Conference

On April 3, 2025 Quince Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: QNCX), a late-stage biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking the power of a patient’s own biology for the treatment of rare diseases, reported that Dirk Thye, M.D., Quince’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, will present at the Jones Healthcare and Technology Innovation Conference on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (Press release, Quince Therapeutics, APR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234651790]).

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A replay of the presentation will be accessible on the Events page under the News & Events heading of Quince’s Investor Relations website at ir.quincetx.com.

PharmaMar signs a new licensing, development and commercialization agreement with Merck for lurbinectedin in Japan

On April 3, 2025 PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) a global leader in the research, development, and commercialization of marine-derived oncology therapies, and Merck (MRK.DE), a global science and technology company based in Darmstadt, Germany, reported an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of Zepzelca (lurbinectedin), a novel transcription inhibitor for the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in Japan (Press release, PharmaMar, APR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234651789]).

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Under the terms of the agreement, PharmaMar will receive an upfront payment of €22 million. PharmaMar is entitled to tiered double digit royalties on net sales, and various clinical, regulatory, and sales based milestones totalling up to an additional €31 million.

PharmaMar will supply Merck with lurbinectedin for clinical and commercial use in Japan.

"We are excited to partner with Merck, to advance and commercialize lurbinectedin in Japan, leveraging their proven expertise in bringing innovative therapies to market. This collaboration enables us to envision Japanese patients gaining access to this new drug which already obtained marketing authorizations in 17 territories including major countries in Asia-Pacific such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia." said Luis Mora, Managing Director, PharmaMar

Jabez Biosciences, Inc. Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Oncology Clinical Study of JBZ-001 

On April 3, 2025 Jabez Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to ushering in the future of cancer therapy, reported that the first patient has been successfully dosed in its Phase 1 clinical study of JBZ-001, a next-generation small molecule inhibitor targeting dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) (Press release, Jabez Biosciences, APR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234651788]). This milestone marks a significant step forward in the company’s mission to develop innovative treatments that improve and extend the lives of patients battling cancer.

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The Phase 1 study, conducted at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of JBZ-001 in patients with advanced solid tumors and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). JBZ-001, designed to inhibit DHODH—an enzyme critical for nucleotide production and cancer cell proliferation—has demonstrated promising preclinical results, including significant tumor growth inhibition and a favorable safety profile in animal models.

"We are thrilled to reach this pivotal moment in the development of JBZ-001," said Tamara Jovonovich PhD., Chief Executive Officer of Jabez Biosciences. "Dosing our first patient brings us closer to realizing our vision of delivering best-in-class therapies that address the unmet needs of cancer patients. JBZ-001’s unique mechanism of action, targeting multiple pathways beyond nucleotide depletion, offers hope for a broad spectrum of oncological indications, and we are eager to see its potential unfold in this trial."

Jabez Biosciences, founded in 2024 by industry veterans, leverages decades of expertise to target key mechanistic drivers of cancer and tumor biology. JBZ-001 exemplifies the company’s innovative approach, utilizing the efficient and scalable Suzuki reaction for synthesis, ensuring commercial viability while maintaining a focus on patient-centered outcomes. The drug’s preclinical performance, detailed in JCI Insights (2024), highlights its ability to induce myeloid cell differentiation and enhance anti-tumor activity, positioning it as a potential game-changer in oncology.

The open-label Phase 1 study will enroll patients across multiple U.S. sites, with plans to expand into additional indications based on emerging data. Jabez Biosciences remains committed to combining JBZ-001 with established standards of care to maximize therapeutic impact.

"This milestone reflects the dedication of our team and our partners," added Dr. Jovonovich, "We are grateful to the patients and clinical investigators who are making this trial possible and look forward to advancing JBZ-001 through the clinic."

INNATE PHARMA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2025 STIFEL VIRTUAL TARGETED ONCOLOGY FORUM

On April 3, 2025 Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH; Nasdaq: IPHA) ("Innate" or the "Company") reported that members of its executive team will present and host 1×1 meetings at the Stifel 2025 Virtual Targeted Oncology Forum being held on April 8 – 9, 2025 (Press release, Innate Pharma, APR 3, 2025, View Source [SID1234651787]).

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The executive team will participate in a fireside chat scheduled on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, from 12:30 – 12:55 p.m. ET.
A live webcast and a replay of the presentation will be available on the Events page in the Investors section of Innate Pharma website.