ADDED
Several of our programs are still in the preclinical stages of drug development.
To date, our discovery engine has resulted in three programs in clinical development: MRT-6160, a VAV1-directed MGD for immune-mediated diseases; MRT-8102, a NEK7-directed MGD for inflammatory diseases driven by IL-1 , IL-6, and the NLRP3 inflammasome; and MRT-2359, a GSPT1-directed MGD for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
Our preclinical studies showed that targeted degradation of VAV1 protein via an MGD modulates both T- and B-cell receptor activity.
Our VAV1 MGD, MRT-6160, showed promising activity in preclinical models of neurologic and systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and thus we believe has the potential to provide therapeutic benefit in multiple immune-mediated diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
In October 2024, we announced a global exclusive development and commercialization license agreement with Novartis under which we granted to Novartis an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize VAV1-directed MGDs including MRT-6160, starting with Phase 2 clinical studies.
We are eligible to receive from Novartis potential sales milestone payments and tiered royalties in connection with sales outside of the United States.
We were responsible for costs associated with the now completed Phase 1 clinical study and Novartis will be responsible for costs associated with any subsequent clinical studies except for the Phase 3 costs covered by us under the profit and loss sharing agreement.
We expect that our collaborator, Novartis, will initiate multiple Phase 2 studies of MRT-6160 in immune-mediated diseases in 2026.
MRT-8102 is a NEK7-directed MGD targeting diseases and inflammatory conditions driven by the NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1, and IL-6.
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that serves as a central node for integrating signals from pathogens, damage, and stress, and triggers the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
REMOVED
All but two of our programs are still in the preclinical stages of drug development.
To date, our discovery engine has resulted in two programs in clinical development: MRT-2359, a GSPT1-directed MGD for MYC-driven solid tumors, and MRT-6160, a VAV1-directed MGD for immune-mediated diseases.
We expect a third program, NEK7, to enter clinical development in the first half of 2025.
MRT-2359 is an orally bioavailable MGD targeting the translation termination factor protein GSPT1 and is currently in clinical development for potential use in MYC-driven tumors.
We have identified GSPT1 as a potential therapeutic vulnerability for MYC-driven cancers.
Our preclinical studies showed that through a functional association between GSPT1 and the MYC family of transcription factors, GSPT1 serves as a key regulator of MYC-induced protein translation, and that the degradation of GSPT1 using our MGDs, including MRT-2359, creates a potential vulnerability in multiple MYC-driven tumors.
We initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of MYC-driven SCLC and NSCLC as well as high-grade neuroendocrine tumors and L- and N-MYC amplified tumors in October 2022.
In the second half of 2024, we expanded this trial to include heavily pretreated castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC; in combination with enzalutamide) and heavily pretreated estrogen-receptor (ER+) positive breast cancer (in combination with fulvestrant), both tumor types characterized by high expression of c-MYC.
Moving forward, we will deprioritize further development of MRT-2359 in SCLC, NSCLC, high-grade neuroendocrine tumors and L- and N-MYC amplified tumors, while prioritizing development in CRPC.
This is based on a favorable safety profile and encouraging early signals of clinical activity in CRPC patients in combination with enzalutamide, including a confirmed RECIST response, and the lack of need for biomarker-based patient selection for this cohort of patients due to the widespread expression of c-MYC in this tumor type.