>> But also presentation of data on STA-9090 in 2008. Which is supposed to be like Hsp-90 inhibitors of the 17-AAG but chemically distinct from those currently in development, and at least 10 times more potent. P1 is enrolling.<<
>>Synta Pharmaceuticals Initiates Second Phase 1 Clinical Trial of STA-9090, A Novel Hsp90 Inhibitor
Thursday January 17, 4:30 pm ET
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that it has initiated a second Phase 1 clinical study of its novel heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, STA-9090, with a once-a-week dosing schedule. In November, Synta announced the start of a Phase I clinical study of STA-9090 with a twice-a-week dosing schedule. STA-9090 is a synthetic, small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor with a novel chemical structure that is unrelated to the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin or its family of related compounds, such as 17-AAG.
In preclinical studies, STA-9090 has shown the ability to inhibit multiple kinases with comparable potency to, and a broader activity profile than, specific kinase inhibitors such as imatinib (Gleevec®), erlotinib (Tarceva®), and sunitinib (Sutent®). In addition, STA-9090 has shown potency 10 to 100 times greater than the geldanamycin family of Hsp90 inhibitors, as well as activity against a wider range of kinases. In in vivo models, STA-9090 has shown strong efficacy in a wide range of cancer types, including cancers resistant to Gleevec, Tarceva, and Sutent.
“Initiating this second Phase 1 trial for STA-9090 will allow us to explore different dosing regimens for this compound,” said Eric Jacobson, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Synta. “Based on encouraging data we have observed in preclinical studies, we believe that either once-a-week or twice-a-week dosing could be appropriate regimens for administering STA-9090.”
The open-label Phase 1 study in patients with solid tumors is designed to identify the maximum tolerated dose of STA-9090 based on a once-a-week, one-hour intravenous dosing schedule. In addition to an evaluation of safety and tolerability, patients will be assessed for tumor response based on the RECIST criteria.<<
I suppose that, depending on the signal they get, they could think about registrational studies pretty quickly, as Kosan has. If the potency is as good as they say, the therapeutic window should be large . . . I can't find any 9090 protocol at clinicaltrials.gov. This is an injectable, so the 2nd generation inhibitors currently in development have that a slight advantage in that they are oral.
Cheers, Tuck |
