What's Happening?
Faeth Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has announced a strategic $25 million raise, bringing its total funding to $92 million. This funding will support the advancement of its PIKTOR regimen in endometrial cancer, which has demonstrated
an 80% overall response rate in phase 1b trials. The regimen combines serabelisib and sapanisertib with paclitaxel, showing a median progression-free survival of 11 months, significantly higher than the historical 3-4 months with chemotherapy alone. The Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation has initiated a phase 2 trial, now enrolling patients, to further test the regimen's efficacy. Faeth's approach targets the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, a common alteration in solid tumors, by delivering selective multi-node inhibition while controlling the nutrient supply tumors depend on.
Why It's Important?
The advancement of Faeth Therapeutics' PIKTOR regimen represents a significant development in cancer treatment, particularly for endometrial cancer, which is one of the highest-need solid tumors. The company's approach to targeting tumor metabolism could potentially change outcomes in diseases where PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways are implicated. This pathway is frequently altered in various solid tumors, including breast, lung, and ovarian cancers. By offering a more comprehensive pathway shutdown than single-agent inhibition, Faeth's method could provide less toxic and more convenient treatment options, potentially improving patient outcomes and expanding the therapeutic window.
What's Next?
Faeth Therapeutics plans to advance its phase 2 endometrial cancer program through a full data readout by Q3 2026. The funding will also support a phase 1 study in locally advanced rectal cancer and the initiation of Faeth's first non-oncology program in Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 (HT1), a rare pediatric metabolic disorder. The company aims to apply its MetabOS platform to identify and address metabolic dependencies across diseases, potentially expanding its approach beyond oncology.
Beyond the Headlines
Faeth Therapeutics' approach highlights the emerging role of metabolism as a therapeutic discipline alongside the genome and immunogenicity. By intervening at metabolic switches, the company aims to address cellular decisions before mutations accumulate, offering a novel perspective on cancer treatment. This strategy could establish metabolism as the 'fifth pillar' of cancer treatment, providing new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
