Ikena Oncology and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology Announce Research & Development Collaboration
May 02 2022 - 7:00AM
Ikena Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKNA), a targeted oncology
company forging new territory in patient-directed cancer treatment,
and the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) today announced
an alliance to enable generation and exploration of tumor and
biomarker-specific data derived from specific patient populations.
The resulting research from this partnership will inform the
further development of novel cancer therapies, including the
ongoing programs in the Hippo and RAS pathways being developed by
Ikena. VHIO, located in Barcelona, Spain, is a leading
comprehensive cancer research center of excellence with an
extensive biobank of patient tumor samples, along with deep
expertise in preclinical, translational, and clinical research.
This partnership will enable Ikena to further deepen its
understanding of the Hippo and RAS pathways in cancer patients and
inform its clinical development strategies, while also advancing
VHIO’s mission to further research into personalized and targeted
cancer therapies.
“This partnership with the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology
reflects our commitment to leveraging multi-omic patient data and
innovative translational models to inform the identification and
development of therapies for specific cancer patient populations,”
said Jeffrey Ecsedy, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer at Ikena.
“Specifically, this partnership will provide Ikena access to world
class oncology researchers, novel tumor models and patient
diagnostic, biomarker, and response data beyond what is available
in the public domain. This is an important milestone for both Ikena
and VHIO, as it is VHIO’s first multidisciplinary partnership with
a biotech company and provides a unique opportunity for Ikena in
our mission to improve outcomes for people with cancer.”
VHIO provides direct access to patient samples through their
integration with Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, as well as
access to the spectrum of oncology professionals and researchers
who care for patients, creating the potential to broaden Ikena’s
global reach and have access to diverse patient population
information and world-class research teams. VHIO and Ikena are also
jointly utilizing innovative preclinical and translational tools to
explore mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and novel therapeutic
combination strategies for the Hippo and RAS pathways.
Dr. Josep Tabernero, Director of VHIO and a member of Ikena’s
Scientific Advisory Board, commented: “VHIO and Ikena have a shared
commitment to continued expansion of research into precision cancer
treatments. This partnership will help expand knowledge of Hippo
and RAS, two pathways that are known to drive cancer, but that
require deeper understanding to identify druggable targets and
potential benefit for patients. VHIO investigators gaining access
to Ikena’s discovery and development expertise and novel molecules
are important steps towards advancing our community’s collective
understanding of cancer biology.”
About Vall d’Hebron Institute of
OncologyEstablished in 2006, the Vall d´Hebron Institute
of Oncology (VHIO) is a leading comprehensive cancer research
center of excellence where its scientists and research physicians
adopt a purely translational research model, working together as
multidisciplinary teams to both accelerate and advance personalized
and targeted therapies against cancer. Undertaking one of Spain´s
most dynamic cancer research programs, VHIO is dedicated to
delivering on the promise of precision medicine in oncology –
turning cancer discovery into more effective treatments and better
practice for the care of our patients. VHIO is one of the seven
leading European cancer centers that have joined forces to create
Cancer Core Europe, a Cancer Association carrying out innovative
research propelling cancer medicine into a new era through
translational research.
About Ikena OncologyIkena OncologyTM is focused
on developing novel therapies targeting key signaling pathways that
drive the formation and spread of cancer. The Company’s lead
targeted oncology program, IK-930, is a TEAD inhibitor addressing
the Hippo signaling pathway, a known tumor suppressor pathway that
also drives resistance to multiple targeted therapies. The
Company’s ongoing discovery research spans the Hippo pathway as
well as the RAS signaling pathway. Additional programs targeting
the tumor microenvironment and immune signaling are in the clinic,
including IK-175, an aryl hydrocarbon receptor antagonist, which is
being developed in collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb. Ikena’s
pipeline is built on addressing genetically defined or
biomarker-driven cancers and developing therapies that can serve
specific patient populations in need of new therapeutic options. To
learn more, visit www.ikenaoncology.com or follow us
on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended,
including, without limitation, implied and express statements
regarding Ikena’s strategy, business plans and focus; the potential
success of Ikena’s collaboration with VHIO, including with respect
to its programs in the Hippo and RAS pathways; and the progress of
the preclinical and clinical development of the programs in Ikena’s
portfolio. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,”
“expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based
on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to
a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may
cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release, including, without limitation, those risks and
uncertainties associated with the following: the impact of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on countries or regions in which Ikena
has operations or does business, as well as on the timing and
anticipated results of its clinical trials, strategy and future
operations, the therapeutic potential of Ikena’s product candidates
and the timing and completion of its clinical trials and related
data analyses; positive results from a clinical study may not
necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing
clinical studies, Ikena’s ability to fund its research and
development efforts, and other factors discussed in the “Risk
Factors” section of Ikena’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2021, which is on file with the SEC, as
updated by any subsequent SEC filings. Any
forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak
only as of the date hereof, and Ikena expressly disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor Contact:Rebecca CohenIkena
Oncologyrcohen@ikenaoncology.com
Media Contact:Gwen SchankerLifeSci
Communicationsgschanker@lifescicomms.com
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