On March 11, 2025 Lyell Immunopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LYEL), a clinical-stage company advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies for patients with cancer, reported financial results and business highlights for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 (Press release, Lyell Immunopharma, MAR 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234651068]).

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"Last year was transformative for Lyell and now, based on promising emerging clinical data, we are poised to initiate pivotal development of IMPT-314, our next-generation dual-targeting CD19‌/‌CD20 CAR T-cell product candidate for patients with aggressive large B‑cell lymphoma," said Lynn Seely, M.D., Lyell’s President and CEO. "We believe IMPT-314 has the potential to deliver improved outcomes for patients by increasing complete response rates and prolonging the duration of response over approved CD19 CAR T-cell therapies, and this year we expect to share more mature data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of IMPT-314. We also plan to initiate two pivotal programs for IMPT-314: one for patients in the 3rd line and later setting by the middle of this year and a second program for patients in the 2nd line setting by early 2026. In addition, we expect to submit a new IND in 2026 for a next-generation solid tumor CAR T-cell product candidate with a new target that is fully-armed with a suite of technologies, including our proprietary clinically-validated anti-exhaustion technology. Our strong cash position enables us to advance our pipeline through important clinical milestones and fund operations into 2027."

Fourth Quarter Updates and Recent Business Highlights

Lyell is advancing a pipeline of next-generation CAR T-cell product candidates. Its lead program, IMPT-314, is in Phase 1/2 clinical development for relapsed or refractory aggressive large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and its preclinical programs target solid tumor indications. Lyell’s programs target cancers with large unmet need with substantial patient populations.

IMPT-314: A next-generation dual-targeting CD19/CD20 CAR T-cell product candidate designed to increase complete response rates and prolong the duration of response as compared to the approved CD19‑targeted CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of LBCL

IMPT-314 is an autologous CAR T-cell product candidate with a true ‘OR’ logic gate to target B cells that express either CD19 or CD20 with full potency and is manufactured with a process that enriches for CD62L+ cells to generate more naïve and central memory CAR T cells with enhanced stemlike features and antitumor activity. The ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial is a multi-center, open-label study designed to evaluate the tolerability and clinical benefit of IMPT-314 in patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL and determine a recommended Phase 2 dose. IMPT-314 has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma in the 3rd line and later (3rd line+) setting.

A Phase 1/2 clinical trial is ongoing and currently enrolling patients in the 3rd line+ and 2nd line settings who have not previously received CAR T-cell therapy.
Initial data from the Phase 1/2 trial was presented at the American Society for Hematology 2024 Annual Meeting on December 9, 2024. Data from 23 patients with relapsed or refractory, CAR T-naive LBCL who received IMPT-314 were reported. The efficacy evaluable population consisted of 17 patients. The overall response rate was 94% (16/17 patients), with 71% (12/17 patients) achieving a complete response by three months. The median follow up was 6.3 months (range 1.2 – 12.5 months) and 71% of patients were experiencing a response at last follow-up. In the safety evaluable population of 23 patients, no Grade 3+ CRS was reported. Grade 3 ICANS was reported in 13% (3/23) of patients with a median time to ICANS resolution of 5 days, and rapid improvement to Grade 2 or lower with standard therapy.
More mature data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial in the 3rd line+ setting and initial data from patients in the 2nd line setting are expected to be presented in mid-2025.
Pivotal trial in the 3rd line+ setting is expected to be initiated in mid-2025 in patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive LBCL who have not previously received CAR T-cell therapy.
Pivotal trial in the 2nd line setting expected to be initiated by early 2026 in patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive LBCL who have not previously received CAR T-cell therapy.
Preclinical Pipeline, Technologies and Manufacturing Protocols

The first IND for a fully-armed CAR T-cell product candidate with an undisclosed target for solid tumors is expected in 2026. Lyell is advancing next-generation fully-armed CAR T-cell product candidates, meaning they are armed with multiple technologies, each designed to address different barriers to effective cell therapies, including T-cell exhaustion, lack of durable stemness, as well as immune suppression within the hostile tumor microenvironment.
Presented nonclinical and clinical data from cell therapy product candidates incorporating anti‑exhaustion and manufacturing technologies that demonstrated the potential of Lyell’s technologies to improve T‑cell function in solid tumors. These presentations, from multiple scientific conferences throughout the year, can be found on the Lyell website here.
Corporate Updates

Streamlined expenses and expect net cash use in 2025 to be between $175 million – $185 million. The disciplined expense management will be accomplished by focusing clinical development efforts on the pivotal trials of IMPT-314 and research efforts on developing next-generation fully-armed CAR T-cell programs for solid tumors.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

Lyell reported a net loss of $191.9 million and $343.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to a net loss of $52.9 million and $234.6 million for the same periods in 2023. Net loss for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 included $87.2 million in acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) expense as part of our acquisition of ImmPACT Bio USA Inc (ImmPACT Bio) and $51.3 million of long‑lived asset impairment expense. Non‑GAAP net loss, which excludes stock-based compensation, non-cash expenses related to the change in the estimated fair value of success payment liabilities, acquired IPR&D expense, long‑lived asset impairment expense and certain non-cash investment gains and charges, was $45.9 million and $159.5 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to $43.9 million and $177.4 million for the same periods in 2023.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Operating Expenses

Research and development (R&D) expenses were $48.7 million and $171.6 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to $47.0 million and $182.9 million for the same periods in 2023. The increase in fourth quarter 2024 R&D expenses of $1.7 million was primarily due to increased facilities costs. The decrease in annual 2024 R&D expenses of $11.3 million was primarily driven by a $14.0 million decrease in personnel-related expenses mainly due to lower headcount following the Company’s November 2023 reduction in workforce, partially offset by a $3.2 million increase in research activities primarily driven by clinical trial activity. Non‑GAAP R&D expenses, which exclude non-cash stock-based compensation and non-cash expenses related to the change in the estimated fair value of success payment liabilities, for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 were $45.4 million and $157.3 million, respectively, compared to $42.9 million and $165.7 million for the same periods in 2023. The $2.5 million increase in fourth quarter 2024 non-GAAP R&D expenses was primarily driven by increased facilities costs. The $8.3 million decrease in annual 2024 non-GAAP R&D expenses was primarily driven by the decrease in personnel-related expenses mainly due to lower headcount following the Company’s November 2023 reduction in workforce.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses were $14.5 million and $52.0 million for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to $13.2 million and $67.0 million for the same periods in 2023. The decrease in annual 2024 G&A expenses of $14.9 million was primarily driven by a decrease in non‑cash stock-based compensation. Non‑GAAP G&A expenses, which exclude non-cash stock‑based compensation, for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 were $9.7 million and $33.5 million, respectively, compared to $8.5 million and $38.1 million for the same periods in 2023. The $1.3 million increase in fourth quarter 2024 non-GAAP G&A expenses was primarily driven by acquisition-related personnel expenses. The $4.6 million decrease in annual 2024 non-GAAP G&A expenses was primarily driven by the decrease in personnel-related expenses mainly due to lower headcount following the Company’s November 2023 reduction in workforce.
Operating expenses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, include $87.2 million of acquired IPR&D expenses recognized as a part of the acquisition of ImmPACT Bio. Additionally, operating expenses for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, include an impairment charge of $51.3 million for long-lived assets, resulting from the continued decline in our stock price and related market capitalization.
A discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, including reconciliations of the most comparable GAAP measures to non‑GAAP financial measures, is presented below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of December 31, 2024 were $383.5 million compared to $562.7 million as of December 31, 2023. Lyell believes that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balances will be sufficient to meet working capital and capital expenditure needs into 2027.

On March 11, 2025 Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to change lives by changing the course of blood cancer, reported that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for RYTELO (imetelstat) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with transfusion-dependent (TD) anemia due to very low, low or intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes (lower-risk MDS or LR-MDS) without an isolated deletion 5q cytogenetic (non-del 5q) abnormality and who had an unsatisfactory response to or are ineligible for erythropoietin-based therapy (ESAs) (Press release, Geron, MAR 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234651067]). Lower-risk MDS is a progressive blood cancer with high unmet need, where many patients with anemia become dependent on red blood cell transfusions, which can be associated with clinical consequences and decreased quality of life.

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"As the first and only treatment of its kind, RYTELO represents an important new option – significantly reducing the need for red blood cell transfusions for people living with LR-MDS who are battling debilitating symptoms like anemia and fatigue," said Joseph Eid, M.D., Geron’s Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "This approval from the European Commission, just nine months following approval in the U.S., underscores the positive benefit for these patients demonstrated in our clinical trials and we look forward to making this innovative therapy accessible to eligible patients in Europe."

"I am thrilled that the European Commission has approved RYTELO in LR-MDS. The long-term and durable responses observed in the Phase 3 IMerge study reinforce the practice-changing potential of telomerase inhibition as a clinically meaningful and differentiated option for the treatment of lower-risk MDS," said Uwe Platzbecker, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden in Germany, who was an IMerge investigator and a co-lead author of the Phase 3 results published in The Lancet . "Physicians and patients in Europe are now one step closer to accessing a novel treatment that, in addition to having a generally manageable safety profile, has the potential to provide extended and continuous red blood cell transfusion independence."

The marketing authorization of RYTELO approved by the EC is supported by data from the IMerge Phase 3 clinical trial, which demonstrated the significant clinical benefit of RYTELO in patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to LR-MDS, reducing the need for red blood cell transfusions in the first 24 weeks of treatment compared to placebo, as observed in the double-blind controlled study. The safety profile of RYTELO was well-characterized with generally manageable and short-lived thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, which are familiar side effects for hematologists who are experienced with managing cytopenias. The most commonly reported adverse reactions ≥ Grade 3 were neutropenia (69%), thrombocytopenia (63%), which lasted a median duration of less than two weeks, and in more than 80% of patients were resolved to Grade < 2 in under four weeks.

RYTELO is the first and only telomerase inhibitor approved by the EC, and the marketing authorization applies to all 27 European Union member states, and Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Geron is preparing to commercialize RYTELO in select EU countries beginning in 2026, pending country-by-country reimbursement. Additionally, Geron is exploring opportunities to make RYTELO available to eligible patients through Expanded Access Programs (EAP), including Named Patient Programs (NPP), which are designed to support access for individual patients on a case-by-case basis.

In connection with the approval, the EMA’s Committee of Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP) reviewed and issued a positive opinion to maintain RYTELO’s orphan drug designation in the EU for MDS, which is expected to provide market exclusivity for ten years after approval, subject to maintaining orphan designation. Patent exclusivity in the EU for LR-MDS is anticipated into 2038, subject to approval of patent term extension by the European Patent Office.

About Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (LR-MDS)

Lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) is a blood cancer that often progresses to require increasingly intensified management of key symptoms such as anemia and resulting fatigue1 . These symptomatic LR-MDS patients frequently become red blood cell transfusion dependent, which has been shown to be associated with short- and long-term clinical consequences that reduce quality of life and shorten survival2,3 . There is a high unmet need for many LR-MDS patients, particularly those with characteristics having poorer prognosis. Current treatment options for those failing ESA are limited to select sub-populations and there is an unmet need for treatments that can provide extended and continuous red blood cell transfusion independence.

About RYTELO (imetelstat)

RYTELO is an oligonucleotide telomerase inhibitor approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with low-to-intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia requiring four or more red blood cell units over eight weeks who have not responded to or have lost response to or are ineligible for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). It is indicated to be administered as an intravenous infusion over two hours every four weeks.

In addition, RYTELO is approved in the European Union as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to very low, low or intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes without an isolated deletion 5q cytogenetic (non-del 5q) abnormality and who had an unsatisfactory response to or are ineligible for erythropoietin-based therapy.

RYTELO is a first-in-class treatment that works by inhibiting telomerase enzymatic activity. Telomeres are protective caps at the end of chromosomes that naturally shorten each time a cell divides. In LR-MDS, abnormal bone marrow cells often express the enzyme telomerase, which rebuilds those telomeres, allowing for uncontrolled cell division. Developed and exclusively owned by Geron, RYTELO is the first and only telomerase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission.

U.S. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Thrombocytopenia

RYTELO can cause thrombocytopenia based on laboratory values. In the clinical trial, new or worsening Grade 3 or 4 decreased platelets occurred in 65% of patients with MDS treated with RYTELO.

Monitor patients with thrombocytopenia for bleeding. Monitor complete blood cell counts prior to initiation of RYTELO, weekly for the first two cycles, prior to each cycle thereafter, and as clinically indicated. Administer platelet transfusions as appropriate. Delay the next cycle and resume at the same or reduced dose, or discontinue as recommended.

Neutropenia

RYTELO can cause neutropenia based on laboratory values. In the clinical trial, new or worsening Grade 3 or 4 decreased neutrophils occurred in 72% of patients with MDS treated with RYTELO.

Monitor patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia for infections, including sepsis. Monitor complete blood cell counts prior to initiation of RYTELO, weekly for the first two cycles, prior to each cycle thereafter, and as clinically indicated. Administer growth factors and anti-infective therapies for treatment or prophylaxis as appropriate. Delay the next cycle and resume at the same or reduced dose, or discontinue as recommended.

Infusion-Related Reactions

RYTELO can cause infusion-related reactions. In the clinical trial, infusion-related reactions occurred in 8% of patients with MDS treated with RYTELO; Grade 3 or 4 infusion-related reactions occurred in 1.7%, including hypertensive crisis (0.8%). The most common infusion-related reaction was headache (4.2%). Infusion-related reactions usually occur during or shortly after the end of the infusion.

Premedicate patients at least 30 minutes prior to infusion with diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone as recommended and monitor patients for one hour following the infusion as recommended. Manage symptoms of infusion-related reactions with supportive care and infusion interruptions, decrease infusion rate, or permanently discontinue as recommended.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

RYTELO can cause embryo-fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with RYTELO and for 1 week after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 32% of patients who received RYTELO. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients included sepsis (4.2%) and fracture (3.4%), cardiac failure (2.5%), and hemorrhage (2.5%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 0.8% of patients who received RYTELO, including sepsis (0.8%).

Most common adverse reactions (≥10% with a difference between arms of >5% compared to placebo), including laboratory abnormalities, were decreased platelets, decreased white blood cells, decreased neutrophils, increased AST, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased ALT, fatigue, prolonged partial thromboplastin time, arthralgia/myalgia, COVID-19 infections, and headache.

Please see RYTELO (imetelstat) full Prescribing Information, available at View Source

The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for RYTELO in the EU is available at View Source

On March 11, 2025 Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLRB), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of cancer, reported that members of its management team will present an overview of the company at the upcoming 37th Annual Roth Conference (Press release, Cellectar Biosciences, MAR 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234651066]). Details are as follows:

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Date: Monday, March 17
Time: 8:30 AM Eastern Time
Webcast: Click HERE

A replay of the corporate presentation will be available on the Events section of the company’s Investor Relations website.

On March 11, 2025 Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported positive topline results from the Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial (NCT05654623) evaluating vepdegestrant monotherapy versus fulvestrant in adults with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease progressed following prior treatment with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy (Press release, Arvinas, MAR 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234651065]). These are the first pivotal data for vepdegestrant, a potential first-in-class investigational oral PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) ER degrader.

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The trial met its primary endpoint in the estrogen receptor 1-mutant (ESR1m) population, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to fulvestrant. The results exceeded the pre-specified target hazard ratio of 0.60 in the ESR1m population. The trial did not reach statistical significance in improvement in PFS in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population.

"The first Phase 3 data readout for a PROTAC degrader represents a significant achievement and these data show that vepdegestrant has the potential to provide clinically meaningful outcomes for thousands of patients with metastatic breast cancer whose tumors harbor estrogen receptor 1 mutations," said John Houston, Ph.D., Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer and President at Arvinas. "We want to thank the patients and investigators who participated in this trial, and we look forward to sharing these data with health authorities as well as at a medical conference in 2025."

Overall survival was not mature at the time of the analysis, with less than a quarter of the required number of events having occurred. The trial will continue to assess overall survival as a key secondary endpoint. In the trial, vepdegestrant was generally well tolerated and its safety profile was consistent with what has been observed in previous studies. Detailed results from VERITAC-2 will be submitted for presentation at a medical meeting later this year, and these data will be shared with global regulatory authorities to potentially support regulatory filings.

"Patients with advanced ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer face significant clinical challenges, with limited treatment options following disease progression and the development of resistance to available endocrine therapies," said Megan O’Meara, M.D., Interim Chief Development Officer, Pfizer Oncology. "These data from VERITAC-2 support the potential of vepdegestrant to give patients whose tumors harbor ESR1 mutations additional time without disease progression, compared to fulvestrant."

Vepdegestrant is an investigational oral PROTAC ER degrader for ER+/HER2- breast cancer being jointly developed by Arvinas and Pfizer and is designed to harness the body’s natural protein disposal system to specifically target and degrade the ER. In February 2024, the companies announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation for the investigation of vepdegestrant for monotherapy in the treatment of adults with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with endocrine-based therapy.

About Metastatic Breast Cancer
About 2.3 million new breast cancer diagnoses were reported globally in 2022,1 and it is estimated there will be nearly 320,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. in 2025.2 Estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) breast cancer accounts for approximately 70% of all cases.3

Nearly 30% of women initially diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will ultimately develop metastatic breast cancer (MBC),4 the most advanced stage in which the disease has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. Treatment advances have helped those with MBC better manage symptoms, slow tumor growth, and may allow them to live longer, but most patients ultimately develop resistance to current standard-of-care treatments in the first-line setting and experience disease progression. ESR1 mutations are a common cause of acquired resistance and are found in approximately 40% of patients in the second-line setting.5 6 7

About the VERITAC-2 Clinical Trial
The Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial (NCT05654623) is a global randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of vepdegestrant (ARV-471) as a monotherapy compared to fulvestrant in patients with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The trial enrolled 624 patients at sites in 26 countries who had previously received treatment with a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy.

Patients were randomized to receive either vepdegestrant once daily, orally on a 28-day continuous dosing schedule, or fulvestrant, administered intramuscularly on Days 1 and 15 of Cycle 1 and then on Day 1 of each 28-day cycle starting from Day 1 of Cycle 2. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) in the intent-to-treat and ESR1m populations as determined by blinded independent central review. Overall survival is a key secondary endpoint.

About Vepdegestrant
Vepdegestrant is an investigational, orally bioavailable PROTAC (PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera) protein degrader designed to specifically target and degrade the estrogen receptor (ER) for the treatment of patients with ER-positive (ER+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (ER+/HER2-) breast cancer. Vepdegestrant is being developed as a potential monotherapy and as part of combination therapy across multiple treatment settings for ER+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

In July 2021, Arvinas announced a global collaboration with Pfizer for the co-development and co-commercialization of vepdegestrant; Arvinas and Pfizer will share worldwide development costs, commercialization expenses, and profits.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted vepdegestrant Fast Track designation as a monotherapy in the treatment of adults with ER+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with endocrine-based therapy.

On March 11, 2025 Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) ("Aprea", or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative treatments that exploit specific cancer cell vulnerabilities while minimizing damage to healthy cells, reported that it has entered into a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with MD Anderson Cancer Center (Press release, Aprea, MAR 11, 2025, View Source [SID1234651064]). Under the agreement, Aprea will supply its proprietary WEE1 kinase inhibitor, APR-1051, to support preclinical research aimed at exploring its potential in treating HPV+ and HPV- head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) expressing genomic markers of replication stress.

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The agreement will enable the research group at MD Anderson to conduct a series of pre-clinical experiments designed to generate preliminary efficacy and mechanistic data to support future clinical trials and treatment regimens. The goal of this research is to further characterize the therapeutic potential of APR-1051 in HNSCC and generate insights that could support future clinical development strategies. The studies will include combining APR-1051 with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to treat both HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC tumors harboring genomic markers of replication stress. The project is being overseen by Professors Jeffrey N. Myers, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., and Abdullah A. Osman, Ph.D., both from the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center. Prof. Myers is the leading expert on head and neck cancers.

"This agreement with MD Anderson Cancer Center underscores our commitment to leveraging strong academic partnerships to advance our pipeline of DDR inhibitors" said Oren Gilad, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea. "HNSCC represents a major global health burden, and prior work conducted at MD Anderson, and published by Professors Myers, Osman and their colleagues, suggests that WEE1 kinase may present a promising therapeutic target. We look forward to the insights that will emerge from this important research."

Head and neck cancers, particularly those associated with HPV infection, present significant clinical challenges. WEE1 kinase inhibition represents a novel therapeutic strategy by targeting the effectiveness of DNA damage response, potentially enhancing the sensitivity of cancer cells to existing treatments.

A high proportion of HNSCC cases are attributable to HPV. An estimated 70% of the 20,000 cases of OPSCC (HNSCC that occurs in the oropharynx) seen annually in the US are attributable to HPV. Although these HPV+ tumors generally have a better prognosis than their HPV- counterparts, standard of care chemotherapy and radiation is very toxic and surviving patients often face a lifetime of difficulties. The group at MD Anderson was the first to observe that HPV+ HNSCC tumor lines are very sensitive to WEE1 kinase inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. Their findings were published in a paper in Clinical Cancer Research in 2015. The researchers also showed in their previous experiments that a subset of HPV- HNSCC tumors may also be susceptible to this mechanism.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aprea will retain all rights, title, and interest in APR-1051.

APR-1051 is a potent and selective small molecule that has been designed to potentially solve tolerability challenges of the WEE1 class and may achieve greater clinical activity than other programs currently in development. The candidate is currently being tested in the ongoing ACESOT-1051 (A Multi-Center Evaluation of WEE1 Inhibitor in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors, APR-1051) clinical trial. This Phase 1 clinical trial is evaluating single-agent APR-1051 in patients advanced solid tumors harboring cancer-associated gene alterations.