Auron Unveils New Preclinical Data for AUTX-703 in AML at ASH Meeting

Data reveals that the drug AUTX-703 provides a dose-dependent survival benefit in a primary patient-derived orthotopic acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model. The company is set to submit Investigational New Drug (IND) applications by late 2024.

NEWTON, MA, USA, December 09, 2024

Auron Therapeutics, a biotechnology firm dedicated to the advancement of next-generation targeted therapies, has disclosed pivotal data regarding its leading drug candidate, AUTX-703. The findings were showcased at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, CA.

During the meeting, Auron Therapeutics unveiled extensive data encompassing cell line-based activities, along with ex vivo and in vivo patient-derived xenograft (PDX) studies for AUTX-703. This compound is an effective, selective, and orally bioavailable heterobifunctional degrader of KAT2A/B, a histone acetyltransferase implicated in AML and various other cancer types. Treatment with AUTX-703 was generally well-received, reversing the blockade in cellular differentiation and yielding a notable survival advantage in a primary patient-derived orthotopic AML model. The company is poised to file multiple IND applications for AUTX-703 by the end of 2024, aiming to initiate clinical trials in early 2025.

Dr. Kate Yen, Founder and CEO of Auron Therapeutics, remarked, “These are the first data to show that AUTX-703 effectively degrades KAT2A/B, promoting cellular differentiation and offering a significant survival benefit in a primary AML model. These findings further affirm the capabilities of our AURIGIN™ platform to pinpoint promising oncology targets with potential applicability across various cancer types as we gear up to submit multiple INDs for AUTX-703 later this year.”

Auron Therapeutics presented a poster entitled “AUTX703, a Novel and Potent KAT2A and KAT2B Protein Degrader, Induces Differentiation and Offers Survival Advantage in a Primary Human AML Xenograft Model,” which highlighted that treatment with AUTX-703 led to substantial results.

Auron Therapeutics is an oncology-focused company that prioritizes patients, leverages its platform, and drives product development. The company is spearheading the development of the next wave of targeted cancer therapies by identifying and inhibiting the oncogenic cell states of cancer. The AURIGIN™ platform, created by Auron, harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to compare normal cell states with cancerous ones, thereby identifying novel cancer targets, optimal development models, and biomarkers to aid in appropriate patient selection. Through the AURIGIN™ platform, Auron is constructing a pipeline of small molecule targeted therapies, with AUTX-703 at the forefront. This therapy is being developed for the treatment of both solid tumors, including small cell lung cancer and neuroendocrine prostate cancer, and hematologic malignancies, such as acute myeloid leukemia.