On January 13, 2025 ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ORIC), a clinical stage oncology company focused on developing treatments that address mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, reported early Phase 1b combination data for ORIC-944, operational highlights for 2024, and anticipated upcoming milestones (Press release, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, JAN 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234649669]).

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"We made strong progress on multiple fronts in 2024, most notably with the initiation of multiple cohorts for ORIC-114 in NSCLC and ORIC-944 in mCRPC. We also forged three strategic collaborations with leading pharma partners, strengthened our leadership team to expand functional capabilities, and completed a $125 million PIPE financing, extending our cash runway into late 2026," said Jacob M. Chacko, M.D., president and chief executive officer. "These accomplishments position us well for 2025 and beyond, with seven anticipated data readouts over the next 18 months as we advance toward potentially initiating registrational studies for ORIC-114 in the second half of 2025 and for ORIC-944 in early 2026."

Updated Phase 1b Combination Data for ORIC-944

ORIC-944 is a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) via allosteric targeting of the embryonic ectoderm development (EED) subunit. ORIC-944 was initially evaluated as a single agent in a Phase 1b trial in patients with advanced prostate cancer and demonstrated potential best-in-class drug properties, including a clinical half-life of approximately 20 hours, robust target engagement, and a favorable safety profile.

In mid-2024, the Company initiated once daily dosing of ORIC-944 in combination with 240 mg QD apalutamide or with 600 mg BID darolutamide, as part of the ongoing Phase 1b trial in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). As of the December 10, 2024 data cut-off, the Company completed the first two ORIC-944 dose escalation cohorts (n=6 patients) for the apalutamide combination. This initial experience demonstrated:

Deep prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decreases across both the 600 mg and 800 mg dose cohorts; 3 of 6 patients achieved confirmed PSA50 responses, of which 2 achieved confirmed PSA90 responses. All the PSA responses were maintained at ≥12 weeks, including a durable confirmed PSA90 response ongoing at 38 weeks.
Well-tolerated safety, with primarily Grade 1 and Grade 2 treatment related adverse events (TRAE), consistent with PRC2 and androgen receptor (AR) inhibition, and one Grade 3 TRAE of fatigue (patient remains on treatment without dose modification). The first two dose levels cleared without dose limiting toxicities or treatment discontinuations related to safety. Dose escalation is ongoing.
Dose escalation for the combination of ORIC-944 with darolutamide is also ongoing with the first dose cohort completed and the second enrolling. Preliminary clinical activity seen to date is consistent with the apalutamide combination cohort.

2024 Key Accomplishments

ORIC-114: a brain penetrant, orally bioavailable, irreversible EGFR/HER2 inhibitor

Entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Johnson & Johnson to evaluate ORIC-114 in combination with subcutaneous (SC) amivantamab for the 1L treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.
Initiated a cohort to evaluate ORIC-114 monotherapy for the treatment of patients with 1L treatment-naïve EGFR exon 20 insertion NSCLC.
Announced the completion of the dose escalation portion of the Phase 1b trial of ORIC-114 and the selection of two provisional recommended phase 2 doses; after which, first patients were dosed across three expansion cohorts in the Phase 1b trial of ORIC-114 in patients with mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 2L EGFR exon 20 insertion (EGFR exon 20 inhibitor naïve), 2L+ HER2 exon 20 insertion, and 2L+ EGFR atypical mutations.
Presented preclinical data demonstrating potential best-in-class properties, including potency and selectivity, of ORIC-114 to treat NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions and other atypical EGFR mutations at the EORTC-NCI-AACR (Free EORTC-NCI-AACR Whitepaper) Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.
ORIC-944: a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of PRC2

Initiated dosing of ORIC-944 in combination with ERLEADA (apalutamide) and in combination with NUBEQA (darolutamide) in mid-2024 in the ongoing Phase 1b trial for prostate cancer.
Entered into clinical trial collaboration and supply agreements with Johnson & Johnson and Bayer to support the ongoing Phase 1b trial of ORIC-944 in combination with AR inhibitors for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Reported initial Phase 1b single agent data for ORIC-944 in metastatic prostate cancer supporting advancement into combination development and demonstrating the potential as a best-in-class PRC2 inhibitor, including a clinical half-life of ~20 hours, robust target engagement, no signs of CYP autoinduction that was observed with first-generation PRC2 inhibitors, and a generally well-tolerated safety profile.
Presented preclinical data at the 2024 AACR (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrating superior drug properties and synergy data in prostate cancer models, reinforcing the promise of ORIC-944 as a potential best-in-class treatment for combination with AR inhibitors.
Corporate Highlights:

Strengthened cash position and runway with a $125 million private placement financing from new and existing healthcare specialist funds.
Expanded the leadership team with the appointment of industry veteran Keith Lui as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Medical Affairs.
Anticipated Program Milestones

ORIC anticipates the following upcoming data milestones:

ORIC-114 (NSCLC):
1H 2025: 2L EGFR exon 20 and 2L+ HER2 exon 20
2H 2025: 2L+ EGFR atypical
1H 2026: 1L EGFR exon 20
Mid-2026: 1L EGFR exon 20 combination with SC amivantamab and 1L EGFR atypical
ORIC-944 (mCRPC):
4Q 2025 / 1H 2026: Combination with AR inhibitors
Financial Guidance
As of September 30, 2024, cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $282.4 million, which the company expects will be sufficient to fund its operating plan into late 2026.

Presentation and Webcast

Jacob M. Chacko, M.D., president and chief executive officer, will present a company overview at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 11:15 a.m. PT. A live webcast will be available through the investor section of the company’s website at www.oricpharma.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days following the event.