On August 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Aeglea BioTherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGLE), a biotechnology company committed to developing enzyme-based therapeutics in the field of amino acid metabolism to treat rare diseases and cancer, reported the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1 trial of AEB1102, a recombinant human enzyme designed to degrade the amino acid arginine, for the treatment of the hematological malignancies acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) (Press release, Aeglea BioTherapeutics, AUG 29, 2016, View Source [SID:1234514793]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "Cancer cells such as those found in AML patients are believed to have a metabolic dependence on arginine for growth. Deprivation of arginine by AEB1102 has the potential to impact this challenging disease," said David G. Lowe, Ph.D., co-founder, president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased to expand the AEB1102 oncology program to include hematological malignancies in addition to our ongoing Phase 1 trial in advanced solid tumors."
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"We are rapidly executing on our strategy for AEB1102 in oncology, having now dosed our first patient with AML/MDS refractory to hypomethylating agents," said Sandra Rojas-Caro, M.D., chief medical officer. "Current treatment options for patients who have these forms of hematological malignancies are limited. AEB1102 may have the potential to offer a significant clinical benefit for these patients in need."
About the Trial
The Phase 1, multicenter, single-arm, open-label, dose escalation trial of AEB1102 for the treatment of hematological malignancies is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of AEB1102 as a single agent. The trial will enroll patients with relapsed or refractory AML or MDS refractory to hypomethylating agents. Key objectives of the trial include determining the maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics (including reduction of circulating levels of arginine) and the recommended Phase 2 dose. Disease-specific expansion cohorts will be enrolled at the maximally tolerated or biologically relevant dose.
Please refer to www.clinicaltrials.gov for additional clinical trial details.
About AEB1102
AEB1102 is a recombinant human arginase I enzyme designed to degrade the amino acid arginine. Aeglea is developing AEB1102 to treat two extremes of arginine metabolism, including arginine excess in patients with Arginase I deficiency, as well as some cancers which have been shown to have a metabolic dependency on arginine. In patients with Arginase I deficiency, AEB1102 is intended for use as Enzyme Replacement Therapy to restore the function of arginase I in patients and return elevated blood arginine levels to the normal physiological range. Aeglea is currently conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors to evaluate the safety and tolerability of AEB1102. Data from this trial demonstrated that AEB1102 has the ability to reduce blood arginine levels, providing initial human proof of mechanism.
About Arginine Dependence in Cancer Cells
Dysregulation of amino acid metabolism has been shown to be a key event in tumor growth and development. Unlike healthy cells, these tumors cells have an abnormally high appetite for certain amino acids and are unable to create their own supply, making them vulnerable to starvation through depletion of that amino acid in the blood. AEB1102 is intended to address an unmet need for these tumor types by degrading arginine in the blood, reducing its level below the normal range to starve the tumor.