STORM Therapeutics to Present Phase 1 Data on METTL3 Inhibitor STC-15 at ASCO 2024

STORM Therapeutics Ltd. (STORM), a pioneering clinical-stage biotechnology firm, is set to present interim clinical data on its groundbreaking product, STC-15, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, scheduled from May 31 to June 4, 2024, in Chicago, USA. STC-15 stands out as the first METTL3 inhibitor to progress to clinical development, marking a significant milestone in cancer treatment.

STC-15 is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial aimed at determining its safety, pharmacokinetics, target modulation, and clinical activity in patients with advanced malignancies. This investigational drug is a highly selective, orally administered small molecule that targets METTL3, an RNA methyltransferase. The interim results from this dose escalation and cohort expansion study will be shared in a poster presentation at the ASCO meeting.

Preclinical studies have revealed that inhibiting METTL3 can stimulate immune cells and activate interferon pathways, leading to the destruction of tumor cells. This promising mechanism underpins the clinical development of STC-15. The presentation will provide details on the study's design, patient demographics, safety data, pharmacokinetics, METTL3 target engagement, mechanistic biomarker data, and clinical activity assessments.

The poster presentation, titled "Phase 1 Dose Escalation and Cohort Expansion Study Evaluating Safety, PK, PD, and Clinical Activity of STC-15, a METTL3 Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Malignancies," will be presented by Justin Moser from the HonorHealth Research Institute. Co-authors include experts from various prestigious institutions such as START San Antonio, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Storm Therapeutics Ltd.

The presentation is scheduled for Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT, during the Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy poster session. The abstract for this study can be accessed on the ASCO online itinerary planner and the STORM website.

STORM Therapeutics is renowned for its innovative approach to cellular reprogramming through RNA modifications. The company's deep understanding of RNA modifying enzymes (RME) has paved the way for the discovery of small molecule drugs that reprogram cells to treat diseases such as cancer, inflammation, viral infections, and CNS disorders.

STC-15, the lead product of STORM, is the first inhibitor of RNA modifying enzymes to enter clinical trials in humans. The ongoing Phase 1 study aims to build a comprehensive safety and pharmacology profile for STC-15, focusing on its impact on advanced solid tumors. Preclinical data have demonstrated that METTL3 inhibition not only stimulates immune responses but also enhances the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors, further supporting its potential in cancer therapy.

STORM is leveraging its first-mover advantage by advancing other RME inhibitor programs into investigational new drug (IND) activities in 2024. The company is also exploring partnerships to accelerate the development of these novel drugs for various disease applications beyond oncology.

STORM's efforts are backed by leading healthcare investors including M Ventures, Pfizer Ventures, Taiho Ventures LLC, Seroba Life Sciences, Cambridge Innovation Capital Limited, IP Group plc, UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd., and the Fast Track Initiative (FTI).

STC-15 represents a promising new class of therapeutics targeting RNA methyltransferases, with the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment through its unique mechanism of action and synergistic effects with existing therapies. The upcoming presentation at ASCO will provide critical insights into the drug's clinical progress, setting the stage for future development and potential collaborations.