REDX inhibitor provides multiple opportunities for cancer associated fibrosis

The company that focuses on discovering and developing novel, small molecule, targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment and fibrotic disease announced additional preclinical data for its inhibitor, RXC007, along with the discodin domain receptor (DDR) 1/2 discovery program. This was presented at the resistant tumor microenvironment keystone symposia in Vancouver.

The data was from preclinical models of PDAC and TNBC in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the current standard of care.

RXC007, in combination with gemcitabine/Abraxane in metastatic and high-extra cellular matrix (ECM) patient-derived PDAC models, was shown to increase survival compared to single agent standard of care alone. The combination of RXC007 with standard of care provided a significant increase in median survival days from date of treatment in a dose dependent manner.

Colloboration partner, the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, also presented data on close analogue REDX10616 at a congress last year (2022). These data show REDX10616 in combination with the standard of care triplet chemotherapy.

The company says that taken together these data provide a strong rationale for the potential of ROCK2 inhibition

Rho kinase (ROCK) signal transduction pathways (chains of molecules that relay signals inside the cell) are implicated in the development of fibrosis. Research has indicated that inhibition of the ROCK isoforms, ROCK1 and ROCK2, has shown promise in fibrosis but that ROCK1 inhibition has been associated with inducing hypotension.

The company said that taken together, these data provide a strong rationale for the potential of ROCK2 inhibition​ in combination with standard of care as a potential treatment for cancer-associated fibrosis.

Redx says it plans to further investigate this treatment setting RXC007, in the clinic.

Additionally, at the Keystone Symposia, further data were also presented from Redx’s DDR1/2 programme in combination with checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD-1 in TNBC models. Using a tool DDR1/2 inhibitor, in combination with anti-PD-1, in the TNBC E0771 model resulted in a statistically significant increase in survival when compared to the control group, an effect not observed with either single agent alone.

Caroline Phillips, senior vice president biology, Redx Pharma said: “These data, presented in hard-to-treat preclinical models, highlights the multiple opportunities for our lead asset RXC007.

“RXC007 is a highly selective, next-generation, ROCK2 inhibitor, currently in phase 2a clinical studies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which has shown significant potential in other disease areas which we are excited to pursue in the future. Taken together with the data from our DDR1/2 programme currently in lead optimization, this provides support for new mechanisms to provide treatments for cancer-associated fibrosis which has been associated with poor prognosis in several cancers.”