ERG

Researchers have shown that targeting a gene regulated by two cancer-fuelling proteins can kill cancerous cells and halt their growth in laboratory models of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers have found a new way to potentially treat one of the most common forms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The study, led by WEHI and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, was able to kill leukaemia cells in the lab and stop cancer cells from growing, after identifying two new proteins critical for the development of the aggressive disease. The findings could lead to enhanced treatment options in the future, with plans underway to develop a clinical trial based on the research. Around 5200 people are diagnosed with a form of leukaemia in Australia each year. An estimated 1500 of these cases are acute -- meaning the blood cancer appears suddenly and grows quickly. Blood cancers like leukaemia are notoriously difficult to treat in adults, with 50% of Australian patients relapsing after the first round of chemotherapy and subsequently becoming resistant to further treatments. Associate Professor Ashley Ng, a corresponding author on the paper, said this presented a unique treatment challenge for these blood cancers and highlighted the urgent need for new therapeutics. "About 135,000 people live with a blood cancer or blood disorder in Australia, with 16 people dying every day from the disease," Assoc Prof Ng, a WEHI researcher and clinical haematologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, said. "Despite the medical advancements made in the cancer field over the years, the incidence of blood cancer has grown by 47% in the past decade. "The best way to enhance treatment options for patients is to continually improve our understanding of how leukaemia cancers behave and what drives their growth. "Our new research has identified two proteins that are critical for the development of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, expanding our knowledge into how these cancers can form. "By uncovering this new vulnerability in leukaemia formation, we hope to exploit the findings for therapeutic benefit and also apply them to other forms of the disease." The research is published in the journal Science Advances. Master regulators Assoc Prof Ng has spent over a decade researching a protein that regulates gene activity in the cell nucleus, known as ERG. Imbalances in this protein can lead to blood cancers, like acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. His previous research uncovered the protein's critical role in Down syndrome associated blood disease and normal blood cell function, including how B cells -- which are essential for producing antibodies to fight against infections -- develop. First author Dr Kira Behrens said the research team wanted to understand what other types of proteins ERG works with to fuel leukaemia development. "We looked at the proteins that control how specific genes switch 'on' or 'off' to analyse how normal B-cells -- and critically -- B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia -- can develop," Dr Behrens said. "After analysing the genes regulated by ERG and another protein, c-MYC, we discovered that these proteins were actually the master regulators of several important pathways and processes within the leukaemia cell." Researchers then narrowed the list down to focus on one pathway essential for making proteins, known as ribosome biogenesis. This led the team to focus on targeting a key gene essential to this pathway, POL I, which is also controlled by these master regulator proteins. The gene helps direct an important cell growth and division process that can lead to the development of cancer if it goes awry. Dr Behrens said: "By targeting POL I with inhibitors, we were able to kill leukaemia cells and stop their growth in our pre-clinical and human tissue models." "This was a surprising, yet remarkable discovery, as we were able to unravel a new pathway and potential drug target that can hopefully be used in the fight against leukaemia in the future." The study also involved a collaboration with Associate Professor Elaine Sanij (St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research) whose work focuses on targeting POL I and ribosome biogenesis in cancer therapy. "The findings show that a subset of aggressive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia exhibit a form of addiction to producing of ribosomes, the protein making molecular machinery," Assoc Prof Sanij said. "They render this aggressive leukaemia sensitive to POL I inhibitors which target ribosome production. "Altogether, our work highlights the importance of developing this new approach to cancer therapy to treat oncogene-driven cancers." Collaborative power One of the drugs used in the study to target POL I was an agent developed by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Professor Rick Pearson, former Associate Director of Laboratory Research at Peter Mac, said the team hopes to mimic the study in a future clinical trial to help patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. "We worked with WEHI researchers to confirm our agent is effective in targeting POL I activity and demonstrated its potency in impeding the leukaemia cell growth and division. "These findings highlight the power of collaboration and the remarkable results that can be achieved when bringing together experts from across various areas. "We hope this research will translate into successful clinical trials and potentially offer doctors a new treatment option for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia," Professor Pearson said. This research was supported by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Cancer Council Victoria, National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia, the Leukaemia Foundation and Victorian Cancer Agency. The study, "ERG and c-MYC Regulate a Critical Gene Network in BCR::ABL1-Driven B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia," is published in Science Advances.

FogPharma took the amount raised from investors since its inception nearly a decade ago to more than $500 million after closing another round of financing. The latest Series E fundraising – led by Nextech Invest - brought in $145 million and featured a host of new investors, including former Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky.The company added that in conjunction with the financing, Nextech’s nominee Alexis Borisy joined the board. Mathai Mammen, FogPharma’s CEO said the investment, which follows a period of rapid growth for the drugmaker, will allow it “to execute on our expanded clinical development and commercialisation strategy” for its lead asset, the intracellular TCF-blocking β-catenin inhibitor FOG-001.“Millions of colorectal cancer patients have been told by their oncologists that no more can be done for them,” Mammen remarked, adding “we believe FOG-001 may represent the long-awaited major technological breakthrough needed to address one of the most common yet unaddressed oncogenic signalling pathways.” Mammen joined FogPharma last year having stepped down from his role as head of pharmaceuticals R&D at Johnson & Johnson in 2022.The company is using its Helicon peptide platform against biologically validated disease-driving intracellular targets that have never before been drugged. FOG-001 is designed to block the key oncogenic step in the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway with the first patient dosed last year in a Phase I/II study in solid tumours. FogPharma said that the funding will also support its other discovery efforts, which include programmes targeting ERG, CCNE1 and RAS.FogPharma raised $178 million via a Series D financing in 2022, adding to $107 million pulled in from a Series C round a year earlier and a $66-million Series B fundraising in 2018.

NEW YORK, June 05, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lirum Therapeutics, Inc. (“Lirum”), an innovative clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of debilitating diseases, today announced the presentation of positive data at the 7th Cancer World Congress in Palermo, Italy. LX-101, a novel clinical-stage payload-bearing targeted therapy directed to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R), demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity against cell lines of pediatric cancers with well-established IGF-1/IGF-1R pathway involvement. These include cancers with known genetic alterations affecting the IGF-1/IGF-1R pathway and/or with high IGF-1R expression such as Ewing’s and related sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, and neuroblastoma. LX-101 was active, with IC50s ranging from 6 nM to 33 nM, against a variety of pediatric cancer cell lines including Ewing’s sarcoma (with EWSR1-FLI1 and EWSR1-ERG gene fusions), alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (with the PAX3-FOXO1 gene fusion), osteosarcoma, and neuroblastoma. The audio poster presentation from the conference is available on the Lirum website ( ) under the News and Events tab. Given these promising results, and the existing clinical data, Lirum is planning new clinical trials with LX-101 in these indications that carry strong ties to the IGF-1/IGF-1R pathway. In parallel, Lirum is also planning to develop LX-101 in IGF-1/IGF-1R-involved adult cancers as well as certain autoimmune diseases, including thyroid eye disease (TED) where IGF-1R has been clinically and commercially validated. About LX-101 Lirum’s lead product candidate, LX-101, is a novel, clinical-stage, next generation, precision-engineered, payload-bearing targeted therapy directed to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). The IGF-1/IGF-1R pathway has been implicated in a host of malignancies and autoimmune diseases, including thyroid eye disease (TED), and which Lirum believes represents a scientifically and medically rational target in both oncology and autoimmune indications. LX-101 consists of a proprietary, engineered variant of the IGF-1 ligand, conjugated to a cytotoxic payload, methotrexate, and harbors a novel and differentiated mechanism of action versus current and past IGF-1R targeted approaches. LX-101 (formerly 765IGF-MTX) has been evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials of patients with advanced, pretreated solid and hematologic cancers. It was found to be well-tolerated and demonstrated single agent activity. No dose limiting toxicity or maximum tolerated dose were reached, and Lirum intends to explore further dose escalation and schedule optimization as well as focus on those indications with strong ties to the IGF-1/IGF-1R pathway. About Lirum Therapeutics, Inc. Lirum is an innovative clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of debilitating diseases through the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel drug candidates with compelling mechanisms of action, regulatory pathways and commercial opportunities. Lirum’s lead candidate, LX-101, is a novel clinical-stage targeted therapy directed to the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) with a differentiated mechanism of action. Lirum is developing LX-101 in oncology and autoimmune indications, including thyroid eye disease (TED). For more information on Lirum, please visit . Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “target,” “believe,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “would,” “positioned,” “future,” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on Lirum’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. 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Important factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: (1) the ability of Lirum to successfully develop its product candidates, including obtaining positive results from planned clinical trials, 2) expectations for the clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory approval and commercialization of our product candidates or other products we may acquire or in-license(3) expectations for incurring capital expenditures and generating revenue, 4) estimates of the sufficiency of our existing cash and cash equivalents and investments to finance operations, 5) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (6) the possibility that Lirum may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (7) the impact of health epidemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic, on Lirum’s business and the actions Lirum may take in response thereto; and (8) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time.; . There may be additional risks that Lirum considers immaterial or which are unknown. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to Lirum and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Lirum undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Also, the information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only. Company contact: Matt Hoberman Investor Relations IR@lirumtx.com Phone: (646) 389-6015 Lirum Therapeutics, Inc. 590 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York, NY 10022