FIRST-IN-CLASS MYC INHIBITOR: THE MAKING OF A BREAKTHROUGH CANCER THERAPY

Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, with very few and often ineffective therapeutic options. Despite recent advances, cancer therapies remain ineffective and/or highly toxic.

Targeting MYC

Our approach is targeting MYC, a function essential to cancer cells that allows them to survive and develop resistance to therapy. In contrast to standard drugs, inhibiting MYC selectively blocks tumor progression without causing important side effects. MYC has been considered undruggable for a long time, and no clinical MYC inhibitor is yet marketed.

OMO-103 Overview

Peptomycs first-in-class drug, OMO-103, is a cell-penetrating mini-protein that derives from Omomyc, the best MYC inhibitor known to date. OMO-103 recently completed a Phase 1 clinical trial that confirmed its safety and clinical activity in all-comers solid tumor patients, causing a 49% tumor shrinkage in a PDAC patient and stabilizing the disease of 8 out of 12 evaluable patients.

Biomarker Identification

Moreover, using AI, we identified a predictive and a pharmacodynamic circulating biomarker signature, and generated companion diagnostic tests for stratification and real-time response monitoring for OMO-103. OMO-103 and its companion diagnostic tests offer a promising therapeutic option for a disease in great need and could apply to treat many other cancer indications.

Next Steps and Goals

The next steps and goals of this MYCureX project consist of:

1. Conducting a Phase 1b trial in 1st-line PDAC patients, combining OMO-103 with the standard of care, to evaluate its safety and clinical activity.
2. Refining the companion diagnostic prototypes and app.
3. Securing the scale-up of the innovation by developing a commercial-scale compatible manufacturing process.
4. Expanding the applications of OMO-103 and Peptomyc's drug pipeline.

Conclusion

By completing MYCureX, Peptomyc will consolidate the therapeutic potential of MYC inhibition in cancer patients, improving their survival and quality of life while establishing itself as a European leader biotech in MYC targeting.