News | June 21, 2017

OncoArendi Therapeutics Announces Selection Of Its Second Clinical Development Candidate: OATD-02 For The Treatment Of Multiple Cancers

OncoArendi Therapeutics SA announced that it has selected OATD‑02 as its clinical development candidate for cancer immunotherapy. Submission of the Company's second Investigational New Drug ("IND") application is expected by the third quarter of 2018.

OATD-02 is a highly potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of two arginase isoforms (Arg-1 and Arg-2) in both biochemical and cell-based-assays. OATD-02 is the second arginase inhibitor to enter development.

OATD-02 has been shown to be effective in vivo in three different mouse models of cancer (colorectal, lung and melanoma) and demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy in combinations with the PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor and with gemcitabine; resulting in a controlled tumor growth, and, in some cases in a full regression.

Pilot studies also suggested a therapeutic potential of OATD-02 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant brain tumor with no effective treatment.

“We believe that small molecule drugs preventing cancer cells from escaping from the immune surveillance have great potential in combination therapies and to be transformational medicines in the treatment of many types of cancer. The increasing number of clinical trials with multiple IDO inhibitors and various check-point inhibitor combinations additionally validate this approach. At OncoArendi, we are dedicated to research and development of the first-in-class or best-in-class small molecule-based therapies that in combination with other modalities, could significantly improve the treatment of unmet medical needs in many solid and hematopoietic cancers " said Marcin Szumowski, PhD, CEO of OncoArendi Therapeutics. "We are particularly excited about the potential of arginase as an additional new target in cancer immunotherapy and the potential of OATD-02 to become the best-in-class arginase inhibitor on the market. This compound demonstrated a potent extracellular and cellular activity while its pharmacological profile makes it suitable for oral dosing.”

Formal pre-clinical development of OATD-02 will be initiated next month with GLP toxicology studies expected in Q4 of this year and first in human studies anticipated in the third quarter of 2018. OncoArendi Therapeutics’ arginase inhibitors, including OATD-02, are protected by two pending patents covering two structurally different groups of compounds.

Source: OncoArendi Therapeutics SA