On December 6, 2021 Redx Pharma (AIM: REDX), the clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel, small molecule, highly targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and fibrotic disease, and Caris Life Sciences ("Caris"), the leading molecular science and technology company actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare, reported that they have entered into a strategic partnership (Press release, Redx Pharma, DEC 6, 2021, View Source [SID1234596488]).
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The partnership will leverage Caris’ comprehensive Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS) and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) platform assay, real-world data and its Right-In-Time (RIT) clinical trial solutions to enhance the speed of U.S. accruals for Redx’s Phase 2 trial for the investigational Porcupine inhibitor, RXC004, in genetically-selected patients with Wnt-ligand dependent microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Utilizing Caris’ RIT clinical trial solution will help Redx match the right U.S. patients to the Phase 2 trial based on both the individual patient’s molecular tumour profile and the trial’s eligibility requirements, i.e., those whose cancers carry Ring Finger Protein 43 (RNF43) loss of function mutations or R-spondin (RSPO) fusions with MSS mCRC, and have progressed following therapy with current standard of care. Through the nationwide identification of eligible patients with the required genetic characteristics Caris’ flexible enrolment model will enable rapid initiation of study treatment for RXC004 at its extensive network of U.S. RIT trial sites, in addition to trial sites initiated by Redx.
Lisa Anson, Chief Executive Officer of Redx Pharma, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Caris on several of their innovative technologies and approaches. Together we aim to greatly enhance the speed of our patient accrual for the U.S. into PORCUPINE, our RXC004 Phase 2 trial in patients with Wnt-ligand driven metastatic colorectal cancer who currently have few treatment options. The Caris approach will complement our screening capabilities, and potentially identify new populations where RXC004 may have utility."
"Unlike more limited panels, Caris tests all 22,000 genes in both DNA and RNA, which minimizes the potential of missing alterations that would inform drug development decisions," said Brian Lamon Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, Head of BioPharma Business Development at Caris Life Sciences. "We will comprehensively deploy all of our precision oncology tools to support and maximize the success of the RXC004 program."
The RXC004 Phase 2 trial in MSS mCRC patients (NCT04907539), known as the PORCUPINE trial, prospectively selects patients with Wnt-ligand dependence for treatment with Redx’s Porcupine inhibitor, RXC004. The study will recruit patients from the U.K., U.S., Spain and South Korea. The prevalence of the upstream Wnt pathway aberrations which drive Wnt-ligand dependence in MSS mCRC, RNF43 loss of function mutations and RSPO-fusions, is around 8%. As such, identification of potentially eligible MSS mCRC patients involves a significant screening effort. The International Coordinating Investigator in the U.S. for PORCUPINE, the RXC004 Phase 2 trial in colorectal cancer, is Professor Scott Kopetz at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
The strategic partnership between Redx and Caris will also include a real-world evidence collaboration, using Caris’ extensive database of genetic aberrations, therapeutic interventions and patient outcomes, to understand the clinical outcomes for MSS CRC patients with these genetic aberrations. Utilizing Caris’ comprehensive data set will allow Redx to further characterize the target patient population, and potentially identify additional patient populations in MSS CRC where RXC004 may have efficacy. Financial terms have not been disclosed.
About RXC004
RXC004 is a wholly owned, potent, selective, oral, small-molecule inhibitor of the Porcupine enzyme, a key activator of Wnt ligands in the Wnt-signalling pathway. The Wnt pathway is well established as a driver of both tumour growth and immune evasion. Aberrant Wnt signalling contributes directly to tumour growth and plays an important role in immune evasion, which has also been linked to resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as nivolumab. By selecting patients with tumours that have high Wnt-ligand dependency, such as those with loss of function mutations in the RNF43 gene and fusions in the RSPO gene family, RXC004 has an opportunity to both directly inhibit the tumour growth and have an immune-enhancing effect to allow the patient’s immune system to better recognise and attack the tumour.
ICIs such as anti-PD-1 antibodies have revolutionised the treatment of cancer, but do not work in all patients. Wnt-pathway activation can enhance the ability of the tumour to evade destruction by the immune system and has been linked to lack of response to ICIs in these tumours. Redx scientists have observed in preclinical studies that RXC004 can block activation of the Wnt pathway and restore the ability of the immune system to fight the tumour. Thus, RXC004 offers potential to address some of the shortcomings of ICI therapies through increasing both response rates and duration of response, particularly in patient populations unresponsive to ICI therapy.