The collaboration will explore the potential of ALM201, which is currently undergoing a Phase I dose escalation trial for patients with solid tumors. The trial is expected to be expanded in a biomarker selected patient population within ovarian cancer.
“ALM201 is peptide fragment of FKBPL that Almac Discovery has in clinical development,” Martin Wiles, Vice President Business Development and Licensing at Almac Discovery told us.
“The current plan is to investigate the anti-angiogenic properties in ovarian cancer patients; however this work is looking at a different angle on ALM201’s mode of action - that of inhibition of cancer stem cell/tumor initiation,” he explained.
Tracy Robson, the initial researcher looking at FKBPL and its peptides who identified the stem cell aspect to ALM201’s mode of action, commented that the funding provided by Almac enables the researchers to better understand the mechanism behind ALM201’s anti-cancer stem cell activity.
“We hope to obtain a more refined idea of the mode of action of ALM201 and to potentially be able to better select patients who will benefit from treatment with ALM201,” added Wiles.
Moving forward he explained, "The work will involve investigating if ALM201 has the means to reduce the initiation of tumors initially in the ovarian cancer setting."