On June 18, 2025 Pimera Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing breakthrough medicines for cancer and other diseases with high unmet medical need, reported a grant award from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) that will enable the expansion of a Phase 1a/b study evaluating its lead program, PMR-116, for multiple difficult-to-treat cancer indications (Press release, Pimera Therapeutics, JUN 18, 2025, View Source [SID1234653991]).

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Pimera has demonstrated robust preclinical efficacy in multiple MYC-driven models with PMR-116, including those that are resistant to standard-of-care treatments. PMR-116 has moved through dose escalation in the Phase 1a/b clinical trial, and with this new grant, the Company can expand the development of PMR-116 in patients with MYC overexpressing solid tumors in a tumor type-agnostic approach.

"In the ongoing Phase 1 study, PMR-116 demonstrated favorable target engagement and early clinical efficacy signals in multiple solid tumor patients, which is very encouraging," said Mustapha Haddach, Ph.D., President and CEO of Pimera. "We look forward to expanding the study into MYC overexpressing solid tumors with ANU and MRFF."

Pimera has partnered with The Australian National University (ANU) to lead the research. The Phase 1a/b trial, which is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), targets MYC-driven cancers – a group that includes multiple cancer types, such as prostate, breast, ovarian, and haematological cancers. Historically, the MYC protein is a key regulator of cell growth and is often implicated in cancer, contributing to tumor development.

Professor Ross Hannan, Chief Scientific Officer of Pimera, commented, "PMR-116 targets MYC-driven cancers by inhibiting an enzyme to disrupt ribosomal biogenesis – a crucial process hijacked in these cancers. We are pleased to receive this grant and partner with ANU to bring PMR-116 closer to patients in need."

Hematologist at Canberra Health Services and ANU Professor Mark Polizzotto will lead the clinical trial, known as a "basket trial", a study design that brings together patients with different cancer types based on the involvement of the MYC protein, rather than the patient’s cancer type.

"Approximately 70 percent of all cancers are fueled by abnormal MYC activity," commented Dr. Polizzotto. "MYC is one of the most notorious cancer-causing genes, and tumors driven by MYC overexpression are often among the most aggressive and difficult to treat. The trial aims to address unmet clinical needs in difficult-to-treat cancers, and its design is efficient, saving time and resources compared to having separate trials for each cancer type."

The ongoing clinical trial of PMR-116 will be conducted at hospitals including Canberra Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Victoria, and St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. For more information about the ongoing clinical trial, please visit ANZCTR.

About PMR-116

PMR-116 is our lead therapeutic in clinical development for multiple cancer indications including solid tumors. PMR-116 acts through a novel mechanism of action, targeting the RNA polymerase I, or POL I, a transcription factor for MYC driven cancers and other diseases with high unmet medical need. In preclinical studies, PMR-116 has demonstrated robust preclinical efficacy in multiple MYC-driven models, including those that are resistant to standard-of-care treatments. PMR-116 is currently in the dose escalation stage of a Phase 1a/b clinical trial being conducted in Australia. Pimera intends to expand the development of PMR-116 in patients with MYC overexpressing solid tumors in a tumor type-agnostic approach.