What's Happening?
Circle Pharma has announced the publication of a study in Nature detailing the pre-clinical anti-tumor activity of cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors. These inhibitors target the interactions between cyclins A and B and their binding partners, E2F and MYT1, which are crucial in regulating the cell cycle. The study highlights the potential of Circle Pharma's oral cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor, CID-078, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for patients with advanced solid tumors. The research demonstrates that these inhibitors can selectively kill tumor cells with high E2F activity, such as those found in small cell lung cancer and other tumors with RB1 alterations. The findings suggest that cyclin A/B RxL inhibition could be a promising approach for treating E2F-driven cancers.
Why It's Important?
The study's findings are significant as they offer a new therapeutic approach for cancers driven by high E2F activity, which includes nearly all small cell lung cancers and a substantial portion of triple-negative breast cancers. Circle Pharma's MXMO™ platform enables the creation of oral, cell-permeable macrocycle therapies, potentially overcoming limitations of other therapeutic modalities. This advancement could lead to new treatment options for patients with historically undruggable targets, providing hope for improved outcomes in difficult-to-treat cancers. The ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of CID-078 represents a critical step in translating these pre-clinical findings into real-world therapeutic applications.
What's Next?
Circle Pharma is continuing its Phase 1 clinical trial of CID-078, enrolling patients with advanced solid tumors harboring RB1 alterations. The company aims to further validate the efficacy and safety of its cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors in human subjects. As the trial progresses, Circle Pharma will likely gather more data to support the potential of these inhibitors as a viable cancer treatment. The success of this trial could pave the way for subsequent phases and eventual regulatory approval, expanding treatment options for patients with specific oncogenic alterations.
