- Two posters reporting activity for SRA737 with PARPi (in CCNE1-driven cancers, HRR proficient cancers, and PARPi-resistant cancers) reinforce the potential broad clinical utility of this combination -
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VANCOUVER, April 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Sierra Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRRA), a clinical stage drug development company focused on advancing next generation DNA Damage Response (DDR) therapeutics for the treatment of patients with cancer, is reporting preclinical results in two posters, including late-breaking data being presented today, for its Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitor SRA737, at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.
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"The data presented within these posters demonstrate that SRA737, as monotherapy and in combination with a poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) such as niraparib, has anti-tumor activity across a broad range of settings. Anti-tumor activity was observed both in homologous recombination repair (HRR) proficient cancers which are poor candidates for PARPi alone, and in HRR deficient tumor cells that have acquired resistance to either PARPi and/or platinum agents," said Dr. Christian Hassig, Chief Scientific Officer of Sierra Oncology. "We also observed inhibition of tumor growth in aggressive CCNE1-driven high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patient-derived xenografts. CCNE1 amplification is known to increase replication stress and genomic instability, leading to increased reliance on Chk1. Analogous to PARPi, which first exhibited robust activity in patients harboring BRCA mutations, Chk1 inhibitors such as SRA737 may prove effective in defined genetic backgrounds of high replication stress, such as CCNE1 amplification."
The efficacy of SRA737 monotherapy is currently being investigated in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT02797964) in replication stress-driven cancer including a patient cohort with CCNE1 amplified HGSOC.
Sierra is also planning to investigate SRA737 in combination with niraparib in a multicenter Phase 1b/2 study in subjects with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), anticipated to be initiated in the fourth quarter of 2018. Janssen Research & Development, LLC will supply TESARO's ZEJULA® (niraparib) for the trial, which is to be led by Professor Johann de Bono, Regius Professor of Cancer Research, Head of the Division of Clinical Studies and Professor in Experimental Cancer Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
The two posters will be available on the company's website at www.sierraoncology.com.
SRA737 AACR 2018 Late-Breaker: The Novel Oral Chk1 Inhibitor, SRA737, Is Active in Both PARP Inhibitor Resistant and CCNE1 Amplified High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers
Data being presented in this late-breaking poster is from research conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Fiona Simpkins, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Approximately 20% of HGSOCs harbor CCNE1 gene amplification. CCNE1 amplification is known to increase replication stress and genomic instability, leading to increased reliance on Chk1. These tumors show intrinsic resistance to PARPi and frequently are, or become resistant to, platinum therapy, leaving patients without effective treatment options. In this research, Chk1 inhibition by SRA737 as monotherapy in CCNE1 amplified ovarian cancer models was shown to: a) increase levels of replication stress and DNA double strand breaks, b) in turn leading to excessive genomic instability, c) resulting in subsequent tumor cell death, tumor regression and a profound survival benefit.
- A distinct subgroup comprising approximately 50% of HGSOC have defective HRR genes (e.g. BRCA1/2 mutation). HRR deficient HGSOC are initially sensitive to PARPi but drug resistance ultimately emerges, frequently involving genetic reversion of BRCA mutated genes and partial restoration of HRR. HRR deficiency may also elevate sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition, given the well-established role of Chk1 in HRR, as well as other aspects of the replication stress response. In this research, SRA737 demonstrated activity as a single agent, as well as in combination with PARPi, in acquired PARPi-resistant cells. Furthermore, SRA737 in combination with PARPi demonstrated preliminary evidence of synergistic tumor growth inhibition in a HGSOC patient-derived xenograft model.
Sierra presented a second poster at AACR with data from research conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Paul Dent, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. The results demonstrate that the combination of SRA737 and niraparib was effective in HRR proficient ovarian and breast tumor cell lines and that both autophagic cell death and apoptotic pathways contribute to SRA737/niraparib-induced tumor cell killing. PARPi monotherapy is known to be substantially less effective in treating patients with HRR proficient tumors, making the combination with SRA737 a novel and potentially more effective treatment option. Moreover, the involvement of multiple cell death mechanisms may decrease the potential for tumors to develop resistance to these agents.
About Sierra OncologySierra Oncology is a clinical stage drug development company advancing next generation DDR therapeutics for the treatment of patients with cancer. Our lead drug candidate, SRA737, is a potent, highly selective, orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1), a key regulator of cell cycle progression and the DDR Replication Stress response. SRA737 is currently being investigated in two Phase 1/2 clinical trials in patients with advanced cancer: SRA737-01, a monotherapy study evaluating SRA737 in patients with tumors identified to have genetic aberrations hypothesized to confer sensitivity to Chk1 inhibition via synthetic lethality; and SRA737-02, a drug combination study evaluating SRA737 potentiated by low-dose gemcitabine. Sierra is also preparing for potential clinical studies of SRA737 in combination with other agents where there is a strong biological rationale for synergy with Chk1 inhibition, such as immune oncology therapeutics and other DDR inhibitors including PARP inhibitors.
Sierra Oncology is also advancing SRA141, a potent, selective, orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of Cell division cycle 7 kinase (Cdc7) undergoing preclinical development. Cdc7 is a key regulator of DNA replication and is involved in the DDR network, making it a compelling emerging target for the potential treatment of a broad range of tumor types. For more information, please visit www.sierraoncology.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Sierra Oncology's expectations from current data, anticipated clinical development and timing and potential benefits of Sierra Oncology's product candidates. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the risk that Sierra Oncology may be unable to successfully develop and commercialize product candidates, SRA737 and SRA141 are at early stages of development and may not demonstrate safety and efficacy or otherwise produce positive results, Sierra Oncology may experience delays in the preclinical and anticipated clinical development of SRA737 or SRA141, Sierra Oncology may be unable to acquire additional assets to build a pipeline of additional product candidates, Sierra Oncology's third-party manufacturers may cause its supply of materials to become limited or interrupted or fail to be of satisfactory quantity or quality, Sierra Oncology's cash resources may be insufficient to fund its current operating plans and it may be unable to raise additional capital when needed, Sierra Oncology may be unable to obtain and enforce intellectual property protection for its technologies and product candidates and the other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" set forth in Sierra Oncology's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Sierra Oncology undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.
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