Trethera Announces Prostate Cancer Poster Presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting
Los Angeles, March 22, 2022 — Trethera Corporation (“Trethera”), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to developing novel drugs targeting nucleotide metabolism for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced an upcoming poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting. Dr. Caius Radu, of the University of California Los Angeles, will present preclinical research highlighting the use of the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) inhibitor, TRE-515, to selectively inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in xenograft mouse models that rely on dCK for DNA synthesis and rapid malignant proliferation. AACR is one of the largest annual meetings of cancer researchers and a key venue for presenting noteworthy oncology discoveries. Accordingly, the first-in-class molecule TRE-515 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 open-label, dose escalation study in solid tumors.
Presentation Details:
Title: Inhibiting deoxycytidine kinase significantly inhibits tumor growth in xenograft models of castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Caius G. Radu, MD; Kenneth A. Schultz, MD; Katharina Lückerath, PhD; H. Michael Shepard, PhD; Johannes Czernin, MD
Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2022; 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Abstract: 2635
TRE-515 is an orally delivered therapeutic engineered to inhibit dCK, the key enzyme in the nucleoside salvage pathway. A common characteristic of solid tumors is that they require elevated levels of nucleotides to support rapid cellular DNA replication necessary for accelerated malignant growth. Cancer cells overexpress dCK to help maintain these elevated nucleotide levels. In contrast, dCK activity is highly restricted in healthy adult human cells. By targeting dCK, scientists hope to selectively and effectively deprive cancer cells of this needed nucleotide source, thereby blocking tumor growth.
About Trethera
Trethera is a clinical stage privately held biopharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering the development of novel treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancers. Founded by prominent UCLA scientists, Trethera is led by experienced management and board members. Trethera’s innovative approach to targeting nucleotide metabolism led to the development of TRE-515, an orally taken capsule twice designated by the FDA as an Orphan Drug. TRE-515 is a first-in-class clinical stage drug that inhibits deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), the rate-limiting enzyme in the nucleoside salvage pathway, one of two biosynthetic pathways that generate DNA precursors. It is believed that some forms of cancer may be preferentially dependent on the salvage pathway to support tumor growth. Certain autoimmune diseases might also respond to TRE-515 treatment. Trethera is developing TRE-515 for use as a monotherapy or in combination, to precisely target a metabolic vulnerability of cancer or autoimmune diseases that will transform outcomes for patients.
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Note on Forward-Looking Statements
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