On October 12, 2020 4SC AG (4SC, FSE Prime Standard: VSC) reported the availability of a new publication on domatinostat in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology entitled "The HDAC Inhibitor Domatinostat Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest, Induces Apoptosis and Increases Immunogenicity of Merkel Cell Carcinoma Cells" (Press release, 4SC, OCT 12, 2020, View Source [SID1234568338]). The article was published by the Research Group of Professor J. C. Becker, Department of Translational Skin Cancer Research, Essen, Germany and is freely accessible via View Source(20)32074-1/fulltext or via the 4SC homepage.

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The article presents preclinical data demonstrating domatinostat´s efficacy and mode of action in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). The data shows that domatinostat not only exerts direct anti-tumoral effects, but also restores HLA class I surface expression on MCC cells – and as a result, restores surviving MCC cells’ susceptibility to recognition and elimination by cytotoxic T cells.

Frank Hermann, MD, Chief Development Officer at 4SC commented: "The preclinical results published in this article strongly support our clinical development strategy to combine domatinostat with avelumab in patients with advanced MCC – to effectively address critical escape mechanisms in this deadly cancer and synergize with immune checkpoint blockade. We acknowledge the scientific value and relevance of the work of Professor Becker and his research team, and look forward to seeing clinical data from our MERKLIN 2 and MERKLIN 1 studies."