Preclinical studies of Selective and Orally Bioavailable Aurora B Inhibitors for the Treatment of AML
Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: N/A
Contract: 1R41CA224830-01
Agency Tracking Number: R41CA224830
Amount:
$299,975.00
Phase:
Phase I
Program:
STTR
Solicitation Topic Code:
102
Solicitation Number:
PA16-303
Timeline
Solicitation Year:
2016
Award Year:
2018
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date):
2018-07-03
Award End Date (Contract End Date):
2020-01-02
Small Business Information
6510 N CAMINO ARTURO, Tucson, AZ, 85718-2014
DUNS:
079416826
HUBZone Owned:
N
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
N
Principal Investigator
Name: HONGYU LI
Phone: (501) 296-1154
Email: hli2@uams.edu
Phone: (501) 296-1154
Email: hli2@uams.edu
Business Contact
Name: BRENDAN FRETT
Phone: (847) 254-9842
Email: bfrett@synactixpharma.com
Phone: (847) 254-9842
Email: bfrett@synactixpharma.com
Research Institution
Name: WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
Address: 1300 YORK AVENUE, BOX 89
NEW YORK, NY, 10065-4805
Type: Nonprofit college or university
Address: 1300 YORK AVENUE, BOX 89
NEW YORK, NY, 10065-4805
Type: Nonprofit college or university
Abstract
ABSTRACTThe Aurora Kinase FamilyAKFcomprises heavily pursued therapeutic targets for cancer because of
their intimate involvement in cell division and tumor progressionNumerous therapeutic campaigns have been
initiated against the AKFwith promising clinical successes emanating from strategies targeting either Aurora A
or Aurora BHoweverthe US Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve a cancer therapy that targets
either Aurora A or BIn an attempt to identify a more viable Aurora B targeted agentwe have completed
preliminarypre clinical development of a clinical candidateThe candidate represents the first Aurora B targeted
agent that can be safely administered through an oral dose with statistically significantanti tumor efficacy
observed atmg kg PO dosingThrough pre clinical studiesit was determined that the candidate is selective
for oncogene driven cell lines and attains efficacy through Aurora B inhibitionThe candidate displayed broad
activity against a variety of solid and liquid tumors attaining GIvalues aroundnMInterestinglythe
candidate can potently block acute myeloid leukemiaAMLcell growth as exhibited through inhibition of the HLAML cell lineGInMbut does not inhibit normal hematopoietic progenitor cellsHSPCsImportantlypre clinical and clinical studies have identified AML as an exceptional candidate for Aurora B inhibition andaccordinglythe candidate has demonstrated immense potential to effectively treat AMLWe wish to further
progress the clinical candidate for the AML indication because of activity in HLand MOLMAML cell lines
and from the mounting pre clinical and clinical evidence that AML is extensively driven through Aurora B activityIn the following proposalwe will further develop the candidate by completing pilot formulationadditional AML
efficacy studiesPK PDand toxicity studiesThis will acquire pivotal data necessary to justify completing an
investigative new drugINDpackageWe have established a robust proof of concept data package for the
compoundbut specific facets of preclinical development are lacking that warrant additional pre IND
developmentWith the completion of this proposalwe will have a data package that will merit full IND
development that will lead to eventual commercialization of the clinical candidate PROJECT NARRATIVEAn orally administered Aurora B inhibitor has been identified that can potentially offer acute myeloid
leukemiaAMLpatients a more effective treatmentAdministration of the therapy has been considerably
improved over previous treatmentsand the therapy is highly selective for malignant growthThe completion of
the proposed research will help this breakthrough medicine reach AML patients quickly and safely * Information listed above is at the time of submission. *