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news.US-based Monopar Therapeutics has entered into an agreement with Cancer Research UK and Cancer Research Technology (CRT) to take forward its experimental antibody treatment HuATN-658 into clinical trials in cancer patients with advanced solid tumors.
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HuATN-658 is designed to target the cell surface protein uPAR, which is found in high levels in some of the most deadly cancers.
As part of the deal, Cancer Research UK’s Centre For Drug Development (CDD) will finance and complete preclinical development of HuATN-658 as well as conduct a Phase I clinical trial in cancer patients.
Drug efficacy will be monitored during the trial, while its main objective will be to evaluate the safety of the antibody.
CDD through the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) network, a UK-wide initiative funded by Cancer Research UK and the UK’s four Health Departments will be responsible for managing and operating the trial.
Following completion of the trial, the company has the right to acquire the clinical trial data.
If Monopar declines the option, CRT may continue the development and commercialization of HuATN-658 in exchange for a share to the company of any future revenue from the drug.
Monopar Therapeutics co-founder and CEO Chandler Robinson said: "This partnership, together with the completion of our first tranche of financing, is important steps in our establishment of Monopar as an emerging oncology therapeutics company.
"We are very excited with our orphan oncology development strategy and proud of the experienced founding team we have assembled. HuATN-658, our lead compound, was discovered by our Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Andrew Mazar, one of the world’s experts on the uPAR pathway.
"The development partnership with Cancer Research UK allows Monopar to leverage a strong platform for the clinical advancement of this compound as the group brings long established clinical, regulatory, and manufacturing expertise and resources that would be difficult for an emerging company like Monopar to amass quickly."