(Image source from: BioTecNika Magazine)

Aurigene, Curis To Conduct Phase 2 Trial On Cancer Drug:- A wholly owned subsidiary of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, the Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited has unveiled its plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial of CA-170, a potential drug to treat cancers at select sites in India.

The announcement was made following the presentation of preliminary data from the initial 34 patients with cancer treated in the dose escalation stage of the Phase 1 trial of CA-170, a PDL1-VISTA inhibitor. The presentation was carried at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2017 Congress by Aurigene’s collaborator and licensee of CA-170, Curis.  

Curis is a specialized biotechnology company engaged in discovery and early clinical development of novel and best-in-class therapies to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases.

US, South Korea and Spain are the countries which have witnessed the trial. The Phase 2 trial is the result of the initial safety data and preliminary evidence of clinical benefit observed in the trial.

CA-170 is an oral small molecule targeting the immune checkpoints PDL1 and VISTA. The data presented at the ESMO 2017 conference represent the initial 34 patients treated to date in the dose escalation Phase 1 trial. Around 30 patients were naive to prior immunotherapy treatment, while four patients had experienced prior treatment with approved anti-checkpoint antibodies.

“These results are consistent with the observations made in the preclinical setting and further affirm CA-170’s mechanism of action as an oral small molecule checkpoint inhibitor. Based on these initial clinical results, we are excited for the opportunity to expand testing of CA-170, possibly in earlier lines of treatment and in a greater number of immunotherapy treatment-naive cancer patients,” commented CSN Murthy, CEO, Aurigene.

“Together with Curis, we have designed a Phase 2 trial, treating selected populations of patients of interest in the CA-170 program to be treated at major cancer centers in India. Aurigene’s decision to sponsor and fund this trial is further affirmation of our commitment to CA-170 and a reflection of the successful collaboration we have with Curis in multiple development programs. Aurigene has the commercial rights to the program in India and Russia in addition to milestones, royalties other commercial supply rights globally,” he added.

SUPRAJA