Aclaris Therapeutics Announces Publication of Preclinical Research of Zunsemetinib in Pancreatic Cancer in Science Translational Medicine
December 03 2021 - 7:00AM
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACRS), a clinical-stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug
candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases, today announced the
publication of preclinical research of zunsemetinib in pancreatic
cancer in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine,
on December 1, 2021.
The article, entitled “The MK2/Hsp27 axis is a major survival
mechanism for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma under genotoxic
stress,” presents the results from a preclinical study using
patient-derived cell lines and an autochthonous pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma mouse model that evaluated the role of MK2, as well
as the impact of zunsemetinib (ATI-450), Aclaris’ investigational
oral MK2 inhibitor, in pancreatic cancer. This study was a
multi-year collaboration between Aclaris and Washington University
School of Medicine, led by the laboratory of Dr. Kian-Huat Lim, MD,
PhD, Associate Professor in Oncology and Dr. Patrick Grierson, MD,
PhD, Assistant Professor in Oncology.
In the study, Dr. Lim and his team identified the MK2/HSP27 axis
as an important resistance mechanism resulting in pancreatic tumor
cell survival following exposure to components of FOLFIRINOX
chemotherapy - the current standard-of-care treatment for
pancreatic cancer. His team also demonstrated that DNA damage
induced by FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy components upregulated tumor
necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) in pancreatic cancer cells, which had
the dual effect of impacting cell death and cell survival, and that
the selective inhibition of MK2 downstream of TNFa signaling
abrogated survival through blocking HSP27 activation and beclin1
mediated autophagy, which allowed TNFa to execute its pro-death
mechanism. With this understanding, his team then showed that mouse
survival in an autochthonous KPPC model of pancreatic cancer was
statistically significantly (p<0.001) extended when dosed with
zunsemetinib in combination with FIRINOX (a murine version of
FOLFIRINOX).
“This study introduces a new MK2-targeted approach for the
treatment of pancreatic cancer,” said Dr. Lim. “We are very excited
about the potential of this therapeutic combination and believe it
should be advanced into clinical trials to determine whether MK2
inhibition can strengthen the effect of mainstay FOLFIRINOX
chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer without incurring
additional side effects.”
Based on these results and clinical data generated from Aclaris’
clinical development program with zunsemetinib, Aclaris is
considering a future clinical program for the treatment of patients
with pancreatic cancer using one of Aclaris’ other MK2 inhibitor
drug candidates.
The authors of the article are Patrick M. Grierson, Paarth B.
Dodhiawala, Yi Cheng, Timothy Hung-Po Chen, Iftikhar Ali Khawar,
Qing Wei, Daoxiang Zhang, Lin Li, John Herndon, Joseph B. Monahan,
Marianna B. Ruzinova, and Kian-Huat Lim, and the article can be
accessed here:
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abb5445.
About Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company developing a pipeline of novel drug candidates to address
the needs of patients with immuno-inflammatory diseases who lack
satisfactory treatment options. The company has a multi-stage
portfolio of drug candidates powered by a robust R&D engine
exploring protein kinase regulation. For additional information,
please visit www.aclaristx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Any statements contained in this press release that do not
describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements
as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as
“believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,”
and similar expressions, and are based on Aclaris’ current beliefs
and expectations. These forward-looking statements include
expectations regarding the clinical development of Aclaris’ drug
candidates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may
cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties
inherent in the conduct of clinical trials, Aclaris’ reliance on
third parties over which it may not always have full control,
Aclaris’ ability to enter into research collaborations on
commercially reasonable terms, the uncertainty regarding the
COVID-19 pandemic and other risks and uncertainties that are
described in the Risk Factors section of Aclaris’ Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings
Aclaris makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from
time to time. These documents are available under the “SEC Filings”
page of the “Investors” section of Aclaris’ website at
www.aclaristx.com. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of
the date of this press release and are based on information
available to Aclaris as of the date of this release, and Aclaris
assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Aclaris Contact
investors@aclaristx.com
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Aclaris Therapeutics (NASDAQ:ACRS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024