Aprea Therapeutics to Host Virtual KOL Event on APR-1051 WEE1 Inhibitor on June 24, 2024

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., June 21, 2024 – Aprea Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company at the clinical stage focused on precision oncology, has announced a virtual Key Opinion Leader (KOL) event. This event will discuss APR-1051, a highly selective oral WEE1 inhibitor that shows promise as a leading compound in its class. The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 9:00 AM ET.

The webinar will feature two prominent speakers: Dr. Joseph Vacca, an expert in medicinal chemistry and consultant to Aprea, and Dr. Eric J. Brown from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Vacca will share the history of medicinal chemistry, the selective design of the drug, and preclinical findings related to APR-1051. Dr. Brown will discuss broader preclinical findings within the WEE1 inhibitor class. WEE1, an enzyme central to the DNA damage response pathway, is a validated target in oncology.

APR-1051 is a potent and selective small molecule designed to minimize off-target toxicity. Aprea has recently started the Phase 1 ACESOT-1051 trial, which evaluates APR-1051 as a monotherapy for patients facing significant unmet medical needs, including those with Cyclin E overexpression. A question and answer session will follow the formal presentations.

Dr. Joseph Vacca brings extensive experience to the discussion, having spent 30 years at Merck Research Laboratories. He played key roles in the development of several approved drugs, including the HIV protease inhibitor CRIXIVAN™ (indinavir sulfate) and the HIV integrase inhibitor Isentress™ (raltegravir). After retiring from Merck in 2011, Dr. Vacca joined WuXi AppTec Limited as Senior Vice President of Early Success Sharing Partnerships before becoming a consultant to various startups. His accolades include numerous awards and over 100 publications and patents. Dr. Vacca earned his BS in chemistry from St. John Fisher College and his PhD in Organic Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Dr. Eric J. Brown is an Associate Professor of Cancer Biology at the University of Pennsylvania and a Scientific Consultant to Aprea Therapeutics. His research focuses on the replication stress response's role in genome stability. Dr. Brown’s laboratory aims to identify genetic changes associated with cancer that enhance the efficacy of treatments like ATR and WEE1 inhibitors. This involves using proteomics, genome-wide breakpoint mapping, and computational approaches to better understand the mechanisms of these therapeutics and improve patient response to treatments.

Aprea Therapeutics, based in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is dedicated to precision oncology through synthetic lethality. Their primary program is ATRN-119, a clinical-stage small molecule ATR inhibitor for solid tumor indications. APR-1051 has recently entered clinical trials, marking another significant step in their development pipeline.

This event provides an opportunity for stakeholders to gain insights into the promising developments of APR-1051 and its potential impact on oncology treatments, particularly for patients with limited options. The collaboration between Dr. Vacca and Dr. Brown underscores the importance of combining expertise in medicinal chemistry and cancer biology to advance therapeutic innovations.

The virtual event is expected to draw significant interest from the medical and scientific communities, reflecting the anticipation surrounding APR-1051’s potential to become a best-in-class treatment option.