The first patient has been dosed in a Phase IIa clinical trial testing the drug HTL0039732 to treat advanced solid tumours, Cancer Research UK and Nxera Pharma have announced.  

The patient was dosed with HTL0039732, a novel EP4 antagonist, in a Phase IIa clinical trial. This followed the previously successful Phase I trial which identified a safe and well-tolerated dose of HTL0039732 in combination with checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab, achieving good engagement of the intended target EP4 without significantly engaging EP2. 

HTL0039732 is an oral small molecule drug candidate that blocks the signalling through the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-type prostanoid receptor 4 (EP4). PGE2 acts in the tumour microenvironment to trigger cancer cells to evade the immune system. 

Targeting EP4 to block the effects of PGE2 increases the ability of the immune system to detect and control cancer cells and makes HTL0039732 a potential candidate to treat patients with cancers that generally do not respond well to current immunotherapies.  

Study participants had advanced solid tumours that were resistant or refractory to standard therapy and the Phase I trial showed encouraging early efficacy, including two confirmed partial responses in two distinct tumour types when administered in combination use with atezolizumab.  

“The need for novel immunotherapies is more pressing than ever, as many cancers continue to evade current treatments” said Dr Lars Erwig, Director of the Centre for Drug Development at Cancer Research UK. “We look forward to continuing this journey and bringing hope to patients and their families.” 

“The initiation of the Phase IIa trial marks a significant step forward in our efforts to bring this promising drug to patients with difficult-to-treat cancers,” Dr Matt Barnes, Chief Scientific Officer and President of Nxera Pharma UK, added. “The encouraging data from the Phase I study provide a strong foundation for continued clinical investigation, and we look forward to sharing further updates as the trial progresses.” 

 

Bruno Quinney, Content Team, DDW