BOSTON, MA, USA I September 28, 2022 I Aura Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: AURA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel class of virus-like drug conjugate (VDC) therapies for multiple oncology indications, today announced the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 study evaluating belzupacap sarotalocan, the Company’s first VDC product candidate, for the treatment of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC).

“Dosing of the first patient in this Phase 1 study is an exciting key milestone both for Aura and for the field of urologic oncology, as approximately 70% of patients with bladder cancer globally are diagnosed early with NMIBC,” said Dr. Cadmus Rich, Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D of Aura Biosciences. “There have been no major advances in the early treatment of NMIBC in over two decades. We look forward to presenting initial Phase 1 data in 2023 and advancing the development of a potential new therapeutic option for patients with a high unmet medical need.”

The Phase 1 multi-center, open label clinical trial is expected to enroll approximately 23 adult patients with NMIBC. The trial is designed to assess the safety and tolerability of belzupacap sarotalocan as a single agent. The primary endpoint of the Phase 1 clinical trial is the incidence and severity of treatment-related adverse events and serious adverse events and the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities. Aura anticipates presenting initial Phase 1 data in 2023. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation for belzupacap sarotalocan in June 2022. The opportunity for more frequent interactions with Division of Oncology at the FDA and the potential for Priority Review will be valuable as belzupacap sarotalocan advances further into clinical development in patients with NMIBC.

About Aura Biosciences

Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing virus-like drug conjugates (VDCs), a novel class of therapies, for the treatment of multiple oncology indications. Aura’s lead VDC candidate, AU-011 (belzupacap sarotalocan), consists of a virus-like particle conjugated with an anti-cancer agent. Belzupacap sarotalocan is designed to selectively target and destroy cancer cells and activates the immune system with the potential to create long-lasting anti-tumor immunity. Belzupacap sarotalocan is currently in development for ocular cancers, and Aura plans to pursue development of belzupacap sarotalocan across its ocular oncology franchise including for the treatment of patients with choroidal metastasis. In addition, leveraging Aura’s technology platform, Aura is developing belzupacap sarotalocan more broadly across multiple cancers, including in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Aura is headquartered in Boston, MA.

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SOURCE: Aura Biosciences