First-in-class drug candidate for treatment of multiple myeloma and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Reference number 4780

Sectors: Biotechnology

Industries: Therapeutics

DTP3 is a first-in-class GADD45β/MKK7 inhibitor targeting the NF-κB pathway

Proposed use

Multiple Myeloma (MM) and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (ABC-DLBCL) cells rely on aberrant NF-κB activity for survival. DTP3 disrupts this pathway, killing MM and ABC-DLBCL cells via JNK-driven apoptosis.

Additionally, GADD45β/MKK7 inhibition has been reported to be neuroprotective in two in vivo models of ischemia.

Problem addressed

There is significant clinical need for safer and more effective treatments for both MM and DLBCL. Current MM therapies rarely achieve lasting remissions, and are often too toxic for elderly patients or those with comorbidities. While more than 50% of DLBCL cases are cured with standard immuno-chemotherapy, patients who do not respond generally die from their disease.

Technology overview

The D-tripeptide DTP3 was developed through a peptide library screen to target the survival complex formed by the NF- κB regulated factor, GADD45β, and the JNK kinase MKK7.

DTP3 is highly specific and kills MM/ABC-DLBCL cells without damaging normal cells. It has a similar IC50 to the standard of care, bortezomib, but more than 100 times greater therapeutic index ex vivo.

Preclinical work has been completed, showing efficacy, specificity and tolerability, with wide safety margins.

In a proof-of-concept Phase I study, DTP3 induced markers for apoptosis in malignant CD138+ cells, but not in healthy CD20+ cells. The trial data suggests that patient stratification could occur through measurements of GADD45β expression and the extent of JNK-induced apoptosis in tumour cells.

Initially, it is envisaged that DTP3 will be introduced as salvage therapy in late-stage patients to alleviate toxicities, extend remissions and improve quality of life as a result of its enhanced safety profile and ability to bypass drug resistance.

Benefits

  • DTP3 inhibits GADD45β/MKK7  with sub-nanomolar activity
  • Target selective
  • Kills malignant CD138+ cells ex-vivo
  • Protective in murine models, with high plasma concentration and bioavailability
  • Good tolerability and no reported toxicity in humans
  • Biomarkers identified for patient stratification

Intellectual property information

This technology is filed in multiple territories and covers composition of matter and use (WO2011048390A2) with a separate patent family covering the patient stratification marker (WO2012118909A1).

Inventor

Professor Guido Franzoso

Centre Co-Director, Chair in Inflammation & Signal Transduction
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology and Inflammation

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Dr Amritha Nair

Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Senior Executive, Faculty of Medicine

Dr Amritha Nair is an Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Senior Executive in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. Amritha works across the entire innovation lifecycle from assessment, protection, and management of Intellectual property; marketing of technologies primed for commercialisation and supporting commercialisation via licensing or spinouts. Amritha also supports researchers in their bids for access to translational funding. Amritha manages an extensive IP portfolio, mainly focussed on therapeutics and diagnostics. Prior roles include innovation consulting for small and medium enterprises and handling the drug development and start-up activities for a private equity backed life science development group in Houston, USA. Amritha has a PhD in Molecular and Human Genetics from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, USA and a MSc in Human Genetics from Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India.

Contact Amritha

[email protected]

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