Oncology
While we have seen small victories in the ongoing battle to defeat cancer, the war is not yet over.
Death rates from cancer have not dropped significantly in the past few decades, and according to the American Cancer Society, cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in the United States. Patients battling cancer need new tools in their fight against this difficult disease.
By developing a thorough understanding of the molecular bases of certain cancers, and the cellular mechanisms by which cancer recurs following initial treatment, we are pursuing novel approaches to treating some of the most insidious cancers. These approaches include targeting pathogenic fibrosis to restore normal hematopoiesis, targeting tumor progenitor cells that cause cancer to recur following treatment and targeting proteins that provide support for cancer cells. Coupled with these approaches, we are using cutting-edge tools to better understand which populations, or subpopulations, of cancer patients may benefit most from our drug candidates.
Leading our oncology portfolio is saridegib (also known as IPI-926), a novel small molecule that inhibits Smoothened (Smo), a key component of the Hedgehog pathway. Saridegib is currently being evaluated in two Phase 2 trials exploring distinct biological hypotheses – one in patients with myelofibrosis and the other in patients with metastatic or locally advanced, inoperable chondrosarcoma.
We are also developing retaspimycin hydrochloride (HCl), also known as IPI-504, a proprietary heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor. Retaspimycin HCl is currently being evaluated in combination with docetaxel (also known as Taxotere®) in a Phase 2 trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a smoking history. In addition, a Phase 1b/2 trial of retaspimycin HCl in combination with everolimus (Afinitor®) in NSCLC patients bearing a KRAS mutation is ongoing.
Finally, our small molecule inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) have broad potential applicability in hematologic cancers and inflammatory diseases. IPI-145, our potent, oral inhibitor of PI3K delta and gamma, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 trial in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. A Phase 1 trial in healthy adult subjects, designed to enable Phase 2 development in inflammation, is also underway.
Not only are we fighting the war on cancer hard, we are striving to do it smartly. This way, we have the best opportunity to make a material difference in the health, well-being and lives of cancer patients.