SAN DIEGO, Calif. (PRWEB)
October 10, 2022
Dracen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a clinical stage biotech company developing anti-cancer drugs that target immuno-metabolism, announced today the publication in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics of a scientific peer-reviewed article entitled: “Sirpiglenastat (DRP-104) Induces Anti-tumor Efficacy Through Direct, Broad Antagonism of Glutamine Metabolism and Stimulation of the Innate & Adaptive Immune Systems” (https://aacrjournals.org/mct/article-abstract/21/10/1561/709527/Sirpiglenastat-DRP-104-Induces-Antitumor-Efficacy?redirectedFrom=fulltext).
“Glutamine metabolism has been considered an important mechanism to control tumor growth and survival. Here, we describe the preclinical pharmacology and mechanisms of action of the novel clinical stage glutamine antagonist, DRP-104 (sirpiglenastat),” said Robert Wild, PhD, Dracen’s chief scientific officer. “By broadly targeting all 10 glutamine-metabolizing enzymes, DRP-104 leads to profound anti-tumor activity related to both direct effects on tumor metabolism as well as immune mediated activity via remodeling of the tumor microenvironment and induction of both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity. This unique mechanism of action shows promise treating various tumors including those resistant to IO checkpoint inhibitors. We are excited to continue the clinical development of this differentiated agent both as a monotherapy and in combination with immune checkpoint blockade.”
About DRP-104
Our lead glutamine antagonist, DRP-104 (sirpiglenastat), is currently in clinical development. The mechanisms of action for DRP-104 include a) direct inhibition of tumor cell addiction to glutamine metabolism leading to substantial single agent activity and tumor regression; b) broad metabolic remodeling of the tumor microenvironment leading to enhanced anti-tumor immune activity; and c) stimulation of T effector, NK and NKT cells and inhibition of immunosuppressive MDSC and macrophage cells, leading to greater long-term durable responses and survival.
About Dracen Pharmaceuticals
Dracen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held biotech company developing proprietary anti-cancer drugs that target immuno-metabolism. Dracen’s investors include Deerfield Management; i&i Biotech Fund (i&i Bio); Osage University Partners; and The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB Prague). Dracen has operations in San Diego, CA.
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