MRT-6160, a VAV1-directed molecular glue degrader (MGD), inhibits colitis disease progression and colon inflammation, lowers inflammatory mucosal cytokines, and reduces expression of IBD-associated genes in a colitis model
Initiation of MRT-6160 Phase 1 SAD/MAD study anticipated in mid-year 2024 with Phase 1 clinical data expected in Q1 2025
BOSTON, MA, USA I May 21, 2024 I Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLUE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel molecular glue degrader (MGD)-based medicines, today announced the company will present preclinical data at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024, being held May 18-21 in Washington, D.C. The data showed that MRT-6160-mediated degradation of VAV1 inhibited disease progression in a T-cell transfer murine model of colitis. VAV1 is a key signaling protein downstream of both the T-and B-cell receptors and its degradation has potential to treat multiple T-cell and/or Th17 mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC).
“VAV1 is a well-validated target with significant therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases but is generally considered undruggable via conventional modalities. These promising preclinical data support our hypothesis that VAV1 is an important target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and also demonstrate MRT-6160’s ability to potentially address the underlying disease biology and provide therapeutic benefit,” said Markus Warmuth, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Monte Rosa Therapeutics. “We’re particularly encouraged to see significant reductions in colitis disease activity and progression as well as corroborating data demonstrating the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased expression of multiple IBD-associated genes. MRT-6160 is on track for an IND submission this quarter with initiation of a Phase 1 single ascending dose/multiple ascending dose (SAD/MAD) study mid-year. We look forward to sharing clinical data from this program in Q1 2025.”
The poster, entitled “MRT-6160, a VAV1-Directed Molecular Glue Degrader, Inhibits Disease Progression in a T-cell Transfer Mediated Murine Colitis Model Concomitant with Reduced Calprotectin Expression” (Poster Number Tu1727), will be presented today by Marisa Peluso, Director, Target and Discovery Biology for Monte Rosa Therapeutics, during the Session, “Animal Models of IBD: Pre-Clinical Treatment of Intestinal Inflammation,” at 12:30 pm ET.
Summary of findings:
- MRT-6160 was shown to inhibit disease progression, prevent colon inflammation, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production in a murine T-cell transfer model of colitis.
- MRT-6160-mediated murine (m)VAV1 degradation prevented disease progression by 85% compared to vehicle (P<0.0001), and also reduced the disease activity index (DAI) score compared to a standard of care control.
- Transcriptional analysis of colon tissue showed reduced expression of inflammatory-disease associated T-cell activation, Th17 differentiation, chemokine, and calprotectin subunit genes.
- MRT-6160 reduced CD4+ T-cell expression of TNF and IL-17A, demonstrating a highly favorable profile compared to active control of anti-TNF antibodies.
- Additionally, in vitro treatment of human PBMCs with MRT-6160 led to concentration-dependent degradation of human (h)VAV1 in immune cells and inhibited T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and proliferation.
About VAV1 and MRT-6160
VAV1, a Rho-family guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is a key signaling protein downstream of both the T-and B-cell receptors. VAV1 expression is restricted to blood and immune cells, including T and B cells. Preclinical studies have shown that targeted degradation of VAV1 protein via an MGD modulates both T- and B-cell receptor-mediated activity. This modulation is evident both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated by a significant decrease in cytokine secretion, proteins vital for maintaining autoimmune diseases. Moreover, VAV1-directed MGDs have shown promising activity in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases and thus have the potential to provide therapeutic benefits in multiple systemic and neurological autoimmune indications, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dermatological disorders.
MRT-6160 is a potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable degrader of VAV1, which has shown deep degradation of its target with no detectable effects on other proteins. Preclinical studies demonstrate MRT-6160 inhibits disease progression in in vivo autoimmunity models.
About Monte Rosa
Monte Rosa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing highly selective molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines for patients living with serious diseases in the areas of oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and more. MGDs are small molecule protein degraders that have the potential to treat many diseases that other modalities, including other degraders, cannot. Monte Rosa’s QuEEN™ (Quantitative and Engineered Elimination of Neosubstrates) discovery engine combines AI-guided chemistry, diverse chemical libraries, structural biology and proteomics to identify degradable protein targets and rationally design MGDs with unprecedented selectivity. The QuEEN discovery engine enables access to a wide-ranging and differentiated target space of well-validated biology across multiple therapeutic areas. Monte Rosa has developed the industry’s leading pipeline of MGDs, which spans oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory disease and beyond, and has a strategic collaboration with Roche to discover and develop MGDs against targets in cancer and neurological diseases previously considered impossible to drug. For more information, visit www.monterosatx.com.
SOURCE: Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Post Views: 2,908
MRT-6160, a VAV1-directed molecular glue degrader (MGD), inhibits colitis disease progression and colon inflammation, lowers inflammatory mucosal cytokines, and reduces expression of IBD-associated genes in a colitis model
Initiation of MRT-6160 Phase 1 SAD/MAD study anticipated in mid-year 2024 with Phase 1 clinical data expected in Q1 2025
BOSTON, MA, USA I May 21, 2024 I Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GLUE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel molecular glue degrader (MGD)-based medicines, today announced the company will present preclinical data at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024, being held May 18-21 in Washington, D.C. The data showed that MRT-6160-mediated degradation of VAV1 inhibited disease progression in a T-cell transfer murine model of colitis. VAV1 is a key signaling protein downstream of both the T-and B-cell receptors and its degradation has potential to treat multiple T-cell and/or Th17 mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including ulcerative colitis (UC).
“VAV1 is a well-validated target with significant therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases but is generally considered undruggable via conventional modalities. These promising preclinical data support our hypothesis that VAV1 is an important target in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and also demonstrate MRT-6160’s ability to potentially address the underlying disease biology and provide therapeutic benefit,” said Markus Warmuth, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Monte Rosa Therapeutics. “We’re particularly encouraged to see significant reductions in colitis disease activity and progression as well as corroborating data demonstrating the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased expression of multiple IBD-associated genes. MRT-6160 is on track for an IND submission this quarter with initiation of a Phase 1 single ascending dose/multiple ascending dose (SAD/MAD) study mid-year. We look forward to sharing clinical data from this program in Q1 2025.”
The poster, entitled “MRT-6160, a VAV1-Directed Molecular Glue Degrader, Inhibits Disease Progression in a T-cell Transfer Mediated Murine Colitis Model Concomitant with Reduced Calprotectin Expression” (Poster Number Tu1727), will be presented today by Marisa Peluso, Director, Target and Discovery Biology for Monte Rosa Therapeutics, during the Session, “Animal Models of IBD: Pre-Clinical Treatment of Intestinal Inflammation,” at 12:30 pm ET.
Summary of findings:
- MRT-6160 was shown to inhibit disease progression, prevent colon inflammation, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production in a murine T-cell transfer model of colitis.
- MRT-6160-mediated murine (m)VAV1 degradation prevented disease progression by 85% compared to vehicle (P<0.0001), and also reduced the disease activity index (DAI) score compared to a standard of care control.
- Transcriptional analysis of colon tissue showed reduced expression of inflammatory-disease associated T-cell activation, Th17 differentiation, chemokine, and calprotectin subunit genes.
- MRT-6160 reduced CD4+ T-cell expression of TNF and IL-17A, demonstrating a highly favorable profile compared to active control of anti-TNF antibodies.
- Additionally, in vitro treatment of human PBMCs with MRT-6160 led to concentration-dependent degradation of human (h)VAV1 in immune cells and inhibited T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and proliferation.
About VAV1 and MRT-6160
VAV1, a Rho-family guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is a key signaling protein downstream of both the T-and B-cell receptors. VAV1 expression is restricted to blood and immune cells, including T and B cells. Preclinical studies have shown that targeted degradation of VAV1 protein via an MGD modulates both T- and B-cell receptor-mediated activity. This modulation is evident both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated by a significant decrease in cytokine secretion, proteins vital for maintaining autoimmune diseases. Moreover, VAV1-directed MGDs have shown promising activity in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases and thus have the potential to provide therapeutic benefits in multiple systemic and neurological autoimmune indications, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dermatological disorders.
MRT-6160 is a potent, highly selective, and orally bioavailable degrader of VAV1, which has shown deep degradation of its target with no detectable effects on other proteins. Preclinical studies demonstrate MRT-6160 inhibits disease progression in in vivo autoimmunity models.
About Monte Rosa
Monte Rosa Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing highly selective molecular glue degrader (MGD) medicines for patients living with serious diseases in the areas of oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and more. MGDs are small molecule protein degraders that have the potential to treat many diseases that other modalities, including other degraders, cannot. Monte Rosa’s QuEEN™ (Quantitative and Engineered Elimination of Neosubstrates) discovery engine combines AI-guided chemistry, diverse chemical libraries, structural biology and proteomics to identify degradable protein targets and rationally design MGDs with unprecedented selectivity. The QuEEN discovery engine enables access to a wide-ranging and differentiated target space of well-validated biology across multiple therapeutic areas. Monte Rosa has developed the industry’s leading pipeline of MGDs, which spans oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory disease and beyond, and has a strategic collaboration with Roche to discover and develop MGDs against targets in cancer and neurological diseases previously considered impossible to drug. For more information, visit www.monterosatx.com.
SOURCE: Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Post Views: 2,908
