What's Happening?
Faeth Therapeutics has announced positive results from its Phase 2 DICE trial, which evaluated the combination of sapanisertib and paclitaxel in women with platinum-resistant or recurrent epithelial ovarian
or fallopian tube cancer. The trial, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2025, demonstrated a 34% reduction in the risk of disease progression compared to paclitaxel alone. The study involved 134 patients and showed that the combination extended progression-free survival by 45%, achieving a mean of 5.8 months compared to 4.0 months with paclitaxel alone. The trial met its prespecified hazard ratio target, supporting the advancement to a Phase 3 trial. The combination therapy was associated with manageable side effects, including gastrointestinal toxicities and rash.
Why It's Important?
The results of the DICE trial are significant as they offer a potential new treatment option for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, a condition known for its challenging prognosis and limited treatment options. The trial's success in extending progression-free survival without significant additional toxicity could lead to improved outcomes for patients. This development underscores the potential of targeting cancer metabolism to enhance the efficacy of existing therapies. If successful in Phase 3, this combination therapy could become a new standard of care, benefiting a large patient population and potentially influencing treatment protocols globally.
What's Next?
Following the promising results of the Phase 2 DICE trial, Faeth Therapeutics plans to advance the combination of sapanisertib and paclitaxel to a Phase 3 trial. The company is also conducting ongoing analyses of response rates and overall survival, as well as evaluating biomarkers to identify patients who may benefit most from the treatment. These steps are crucial for regulatory approval and eventual clinical adoption. The outcomes of these future trials will be closely watched by the medical community and could have significant implications for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Beyond the Headlines
The DICE trial highlights the growing importance of precision medicine and the integration of targeted therapies with precision nutrition interventions. Faeth Therapeutics' approach of exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells represents a shift towards more personalized and effective cancer treatments. This strategy could pave the way for similar approaches in other types of cancer, potentially transforming the landscape of oncology treatment and offering hope to patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
