Avacta has added the next pre|CISION drug candidate to its portfolio. AVA3996, has been selected for pre-clinical development with a view to a first-in-human Phase I clinical trial beginning in the second half of 2023.
The technology
Avacta’s chemistry is used to modify chemotherapy drugs to render them inactive in the circulation until they enter the tumour micro-environment where they are activated by an enzyme called fibroblast activation protein α (FAP). This enzyme is in high abundance in most solid tumours but, crucially, not in healthy tissues.
The pre|CISION platform offers a way to reduce systemic exposure to, and improve the safety of, these effective and affordable cancer drugs. In this way, the platform is intended to increase the tolerability of chemotherapies and achieve better clinical outcomes for patients.
Clinical trials
Following a review of efficacy studies in several liquid and solid tumour models, safety studies and a review of manufacturability, AVA3996 has been selected as a candidate for pre-clinical development with the aim of a Clinical Trial Authorisation (CTA) and/or Investigational New Drug (IND) filing in the first half of 2023 and dosing of the first patient later in the year.
Official comments
Dr Alastair Smith, Chief Executive of Avacta Group, commented: “We are excited by the early pre-clinical data for AVA3996, the second of Avacta’s pre|CISION pro-drugs following on from AVA6000. The pre|CISION platform has the potential to generate a significant pipeline of safer, better-tolerated chemotherapies to treat a wide range of cancers. It represents a major commercial opportunity and the principal value driver for the Group.”
“If AVA3996 is shown to have a significantly improved safety profile in the clinic, then not only could it provide a better-tolerated treatment for multiple myeloma, but it has the potential to be the first proteasome inhibitor to be suitable for treating solid tumours, thereby significantly increasing the market opportunity.”
References
Proteasome Inhibitors Market Size, Share, Trends, Report 2022-2027
