LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Asana BioSciences, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that ASN007 clinical data on safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics in solid tumor patients will be presented at the 32nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Virtual Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics (ENA 2020) to be held on October 24-25, 2020. Details of this invited presentation are as follows:
Title: Targeting ERK with novel inhibitor ASN007
Presenter: Filip Janku, MD, PhD. Associate Professor, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Clinical Trials Program), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Session Title: New Drugs on the Horizon
Date and Time: Sunday, October 25, 2020 at 21:00 CET/4:00 PM US ET
About ASN007
ASN007 is an orally bioavailable, potent and selective inhibitor of ERK1/2 designed to potently inhibit the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signaling pathway. ASN007 shows potent preclinical activity in KRAS-driven models, irrespective of subtype mutation, and in BRAF mutant models, including RAF/MEK inhibitor-resistant melanoma. ASN007 has a long target residence time and shows activity in preclinical models using an intermittent dosing schedule. ASN007 has been evaluated in patients with advanced solid tumors, including BRAF- and KRAS-mutant cancers (NCT03415126). The maximum tolerated dose levels (MTD) and recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) has been determined. Clinical development of ASN007 is ongoing and aims to address the medical need across a range of cancer types defined by RAS/RAF/MEK driven mutations as monotherapy and in combinations.
About Asana BioSciences, LLC
Asana BioSciences is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company based in Lawrenceville, NJ. Asana is focused on discovery and development of novel targeted investigational medicines in immunology/inflammation and oncology.
Additional oncology pipeline candidates in Asana’s portfolio include:
ASN003 is a dual-selective inhibitor of BRAF and PI3 kinases. Dual targeting of RAF and PI3K pathways has the potential to overcome and/or delay acquired resistance to selective RAF inhibitors. ASN003 is in Phase 1 development in patients with BRAFV600 mutated metastatic melanoma, metastatic colorectal and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NCT02961283).
ASN004 is an antibody drug conjugate that targets the 5T4 oncofetal antigen, which is expressed in a wide range of malignant tumors but has very limited expression in normal tissues. ASN004 demonstrates robust and durable antitumor activity after single administration in multiple human tumor xenograft models. A First-in-Human Phase 1 trial is being planned.
Asana’s lead asset in the immunology/dermatology area is gusacitinib (ASN002), an oral potent inhibitor of the Janus Kinase (JAK) and Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (SYK). This potential best-in-class JAK/SYK inhibitor has been studied in over 400 patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) (NCT03531957) and chronic hand eczema (NCT03728504) in two separate Phase 2b studies, with good safety/tolerability and efficacy.
Asana’s second immunology/dermatology asset ASN008 is a novel, topical Na+-channel blocker with high functional selectivity for itch and pain sensing neurons without affecting motor neurons. In a Phase 1b study in atopic dermatitis patients, topical application of ASN008 showed rapid onset of pruritus relief after a single application, which lasted between 8-12 hours, and no tachyphylaxis to this response was observed after 2 weeks of daily application (NCT03798561). ASN008 also has potential for the treatment of pain, urologic and other chronic conditions.
Asana is also developing ASN009, a selective antagonist of the purinergic P2X3 ion channel that is activated by extracellular ATP and involved in various pain, urological and respiratory disease conditions. Preclinical proof-of-concept has been demonstrated with ASN009 in a cough model. ASN009 is currently in preclinical development.
Contacts
David Zammit
Asana BioSciences
997 Lenox Drive, Suite 220
Princeton Pike Corporate Center
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Ph: 908-698-0486