CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I January 14, 2019 I Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPTX), a biotechnology company developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics, today announced an investigator-initiated study led by David R. Wise, M.D., Ph.D. of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health to study DKN-01, as a monotherapy and in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer. This clinical trial is specifically targeting a biomarker-selected patient population in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with elevated Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) levels.
“DKK1 can promote prostate cancer growth through suppressing the anti-tumor immune response. We have discovered that DKK1 is upregulated in the substantial portion of advanced prostate cancers that lack expression of androgen receptor,” commented Dr. Wise. “Patients with this type of prostate cancer have a very poor prognosis and may benefit from this new immunotherapy strategy targeting DKK1 therapy with DKN-01.”
“An important part of our DKN-01 development strategy is to target biomarker-selected patient populations,” said Cynthia Sirard, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development of Leap Therapeutics. “In our esophagogastric cancer study, we have identified DKK1 levels measured by RNAScope as a potential predictor of response to DKN-01-based therapy. We are looking forward to treating mCRPC patients with elevated DKK1 levels in this study, building on our and Dr. Wise’s work.”
The study is expected to begin enrolling patients in the first quarter of 2019. mCRPC patients who have progressed on one or more androgen receptor (AR) therapies (Xtandi or Zytiga) will be screened for DKK1 elevation in their plasma or in a tumor sample. Up to 97 patients will be enrolled in a dose-escalation and then dose expansion cohorts. DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have not received prior taxane chemotherapies will be treated with DKN-01 and docetaxel. DKN-01 will be given as a monotherapy to DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have progressed on or refused docetaxel treatment.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the leading type of non-skin cancer in the US, and the second leading cause of cancer worldwide. Approximately 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy can be highly effective for the treatment of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, most patients will eventually develop resistance and progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), an incurable form of the disease.
Disclosure
Dr. Wise is compensated to serve as a consulant to Leap Therapeutics. Also, Dr. Wise’s involvement in this upcoming study does not constitute an institutional endorsement from NYU Langone Health or its Perlmutter Cancer Center of the drug DKN-01 being studied.
About Leap Therapeutics
Leap Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LPTX) is focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Leap’s most advanced clinical candidate, DKN-01, is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein, a Wnt pathway modulator. DKN-01 is in clinical trials in patients with esophagogastric, hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. Leap’s second clinical candidate, TRX518, is a humanized GITR agonist monoclonal antibody designed to enhance the immune system’s anti-tumor response that is in advanced solid tumor studies. For more information about Leap Therapeutics, visit http://www.leaptx.com or our public filings with the SEC that are available via EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov or via https://www.leaptx.com/investors.
SOURCE: Leap Therapeutics
Post Views: 53
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I January 14, 2019 I Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPTX), a biotechnology company developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics, today announced an investigator-initiated study led by David R. Wise, M.D., Ph.D. of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health to study DKN-01, as a monotherapy and in combination with docetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer. This clinical trial is specifically targeting a biomarker-selected patient population in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with elevated Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) levels.
“DKK1 can promote prostate cancer growth through suppressing the anti-tumor immune response. We have discovered that DKK1 is upregulated in the substantial portion of advanced prostate cancers that lack expression of androgen receptor,” commented Dr. Wise. “Patients with this type of prostate cancer have a very poor prognosis and may benefit from this new immunotherapy strategy targeting DKK1 therapy with DKN-01.”
“An important part of our DKN-01 development strategy is to target biomarker-selected patient populations,” said Cynthia Sirard, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development of Leap Therapeutics. “In our esophagogastric cancer study, we have identified DKK1 levels measured by RNAScope as a potential predictor of response to DKN-01-based therapy. We are looking forward to treating mCRPC patients with elevated DKK1 levels in this study, building on our and Dr. Wise’s work.”
The study is expected to begin enrolling patients in the first quarter of 2019. mCRPC patients who have progressed on one or more androgen receptor (AR) therapies (Xtandi or Zytiga) will be screened for DKK1 elevation in their plasma or in a tumor sample. Up to 97 patients will be enrolled in a dose-escalation and then dose expansion cohorts. DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have not received prior taxane chemotherapies will be treated with DKN-01 and docetaxel. DKN-01 will be given as a monotherapy to DKK1+ mCRPC patients who have progressed on or refused docetaxel treatment.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the leading type of non-skin cancer in the US, and the second leading cause of cancer worldwide. Approximately 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapy can be highly effective for the treatment of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, most patients will eventually develop resistance and progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), an incurable form of the disease.
Disclosure
Dr. Wise is compensated to serve as a consulant to Leap Therapeutics. Also, Dr. Wise’s involvement in this upcoming study does not constitute an institutional endorsement from NYU Langone Health or its Perlmutter Cancer Center of the drug DKN-01 being studied.
About Leap Therapeutics
Leap Therapeutics (NASDAQ: LPTX) is focused on developing targeted and immuno-oncology therapeutics. Leap’s most advanced clinical candidate, DKN-01, is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) protein, a Wnt pathway modulator. DKN-01 is in clinical trials in patients with esophagogastric, hepatobiliary, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. Leap’s second clinical candidate, TRX518, is a humanized GITR agonist monoclonal antibody designed to enhance the immune system’s anti-tumor response that is in advanced solid tumor studies. For more information about Leap Therapeutics, visit http://www.leaptx.com or our public filings with the SEC that are available via EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov or via https://www.leaptx.com/investors.
SOURCE: Leap Therapeutics
Post Views: 53
