IND candidate EPI-7386 as an N-terminal domain androgen receptor inhibitor in development for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Authors

null

Ronan Le Moigne

ESSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Houston, TX

Ronan Le Moigne , C. Adriana Banuelos , Nasrin R. Mawji , Teresa Tam , Jun Wang , Kunzhong Jian , Raymond J. Andersen , Alessandra Cesano , Marianne Sadar , Han-Jie Zhou , Peter Virsik

Organizations

ESSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Houston, TX, Department of Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada, Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Research Funding

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company
ESSA Pharmaceuticals.

Background: The androgen receptor (AR) pathway drives most metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers (mCRPC) even in late stages of the disease. Anti-androgen resistance mechanisms include AR gene amplification, C-terminal ligand-binding domain (LBD) mutations and expression of constitutively active AR splice variants lacking the LBD (e.g. AR-V7). Selective inhibition of the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the AR can inhibit its’ transcriptional activity even in the presence of LBD-driven resistance. In a phase I trial, the first-generation AR NTD inhibitor (aniten) EPI-002, demonstrated minor PSA declines in mCRPC patients. The efficacy and safety profile of second generation aniten IND-candidate EPI-7386 will be presented. Methods: Novel aniten chemical structures were developed to increase molecule potency using a wide variety of CRPC models. Similarly, the stability and selectivity of the molecule were characterized with screening and functional assays. IND-enabling studies further support the compounds’ safety profile. Results: EPI-7386 demonstrated a 20-fold improvement in AR-driven cellular potency compared to EPI-002, while being highly stable in human hepatocytes and across animal species. In vitro proliferation assays demonstrated on-target activity across a panel of prostate cancer cell lines, with activity in AR-V7-driven cellular models. EPI-7386 was able to induce tumor regression in CRPC xenografts and show superiority to enzalutamide (ENZ) in ENZ resistant models. In addition, the combination of ENZ with EPI-7386 demonstrated a more robust antitumor response. IND-enabling studies demonstrate a safe and well-tolerated profile supporting an IND filing in 1Q 2020. Pharmacodynamic markers specific to anitens will be presented, in addition to early clinical development plans. Conclusions: The next generation aniten compound EPI-7386 is more active and metabolically stable than EPI-002. It demonstrated potential as a single agent in overcoming anti-androgen clinical resistance as well as in combination therapy in earlier stages of the disease. The clinical strategy supporting the development of this new generation of aniten will be discussed.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Prostate Cancer

Track

Prostate Cancer - Advanced,Prostate Cancer - Localized

Sub Track

Therapeutics

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38, 2020 (suppl 6; abstr 142)

Abstract #

142

Poster Bd #

F22

Abstract Disclosures

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