Phase 1/2 trials expected to initiate 1Q2019

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I October 05, 2018 I Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel cancer therapeutics, today announced two new clinical trial collaborations to evaluate Pfizer’s palbociclib, also known as IBRANCE®, and the investigational dual-mechanism poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor talazoparib, each in combination with Calithera’s glutaminase inhibitor CB-839. As part of the collaboration, Pfizer will provide palbociclib and talazoparib, as well as financial support. 

“Tumor metabolism is a unique therapeutic approach that exploits the way in which cancer cells utilize nutrients to grow and survive,” said Susan Molineaux, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Calithera. “CB-839, a novel glutaminase inhibitor, has the potential to be developed in combination with palbociclib or talazoparib to improve patient outcomes. We look forward to collaborating with Pfizer on the combination clinical trials planned in the first quarter of 2019.”

Preclinical data suggest that CB-839, which is designed to starve tumor cells of the key nutrient glutamine, synergizes with CDK4/6 inhibitors by enhancing cell cycle arrest and blocking cancer cell proliferation. The combination of CB-839 with CDK4/6 inhibitors has demonstrated synergistic activity in a number of preclinical cancer models, including colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and ER+ breast cancer. Based on these data, Calithera will initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of the combination of CB-839 plus palbociclib in patients with KRAS mutated CRC and patients with KRAS mutated NSCLC in the first quarter of 2019.

CB-839 also synergizes with PARP inhibitors to impair DNA synthesis, enhance DNA damage, and block cancer cell proliferation. The combination of CB-839 with PARP inhibitors has demonstrated synergistic activity in a number of preclinical cancer models, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), TNBC, CRC, NSCLC, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer. Based on these data, Calithera will initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of the combination of CB-839 plus talazoparib in patients with RCC, and TNBC in the first quarter of 2019.

About Calithera

Calithera Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs directed against tumor metabolism and tumor immunology targets for the treatment of cancer.  Calithera’s product candidate, CB-839, is a potent, selective, reversible and orally bioavailable inhibitor of glutaminase. CB-839 takes advantage of the pronounced dependency many cancers have on the nutrient glutamine for growth and survival. It is currently being evaluated in randomized clinical trials for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma.  INCB-001158 is an immuno-oncology metabolic checkpoint inhibitor targeting arginase, a critical immunosuppressive enzyme responsible for T-cell suppression by myeloid-derived suppressor cells.  Arginase depletes arginine, a nutrient that is critical for the activation, growth and survival of the body’s cancer-fighting immune cells, known as cytotoxic T-cells.  INCB-001158 is being developed in collaboration with Incyte Corporation.  Calithera is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.  For more information about Calithera, please visit www.calithera.com.

SOURCE: Calithera