LEXINGTON, Mass. - Curis Inc, an oncology-focused biotechnology company developing novel drug candidates for the treatment of human cancers, announced in a press release the receipt of a Notice of Allowance of a US patent that covers a broad genus of compounds that target histone deacetylase (HDAC) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activities in a single chemical structure including CUDC-907, Curis' oral, dual HDAC and PI3K small molecule inhibitor that is currently being studied in Phase 1 clinical trials.
This patent, along with prior patents issued to Curis, further strengthens the Company's intellectual property portfolio of compounds including CUDC-907 that inhibit HDAC and PI3K enzymes in a single small molecule for the treatment of certain human diseases.
Collectively, these patents generically cover composition-of-matter and methods of use of CUDC-907 as well as a broad range of proprietary chemical entities that target HDAC and PI3K enzymes, and in some instances mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), within a single molecule for the treatment of certain human diseases.
"The allowance of the most recent patent application further enhances Curis' strong intellectual property portfolio and protection around our promising drug candidate, CUDC-907. Additionally, it also emphasizes the novelty and importance of combining two distinct inhibitory moieties that target HDAC and PI3K enzymes in a single molecule," stated Michael Gray, Curis' Chief Financial and Business Officer.
"We are encouraged by the progress being made in CUDC-907's program and look forward to data from the expansion phase of the trial to understand the role of this molecule in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma."
CUDC-907 is being investigated in a first-in-human Phase 1 study in patients with relapsed/ refractory lymphoma or multiple myeloma. As part of the Phase 1 study, Curis has also opened expansion cohorts to enroll patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In addition, Curis also expects to initiate an additional study under a second open IND that will enroll patients with advanced solid tumors, including patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer, among others.
CUDC-907 is an oral, dual inhibitor of Class I and II HDAC, as well as Class I PI3K enzymes. Specifically, CUDC-907 is designed to inhibit HDACs 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 and PI3K-alpha, delta and beta isoforms. It is currently undergoing investigation in a first-in-human trial to assess its safety, pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-cancer activity in patients with relapsed/ refractory lymphomas and multiple myeloma. The development of CUDC-907 is in part funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) under an agreement established in 2011 between Curis and LLS's Therapy Acceleration Program.
Curis is an oncology-focused biotechnology company developing novel drug candidates for the treatment of human cancers. Curis' pipeline of drug candidates includes CUDC-907, a dual HDAC and PI3K inhibitor, and CUDC-427, a small molecule antagonist of IAP proteins. Curis is also engaged in a collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, under which Genentech and Roche are developing and commercializing Erivedge®, the first and only FDA-approved medicine for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma. Curis partner Debiopharm is studying HSP90 inhibitor, Debio 0932 in patients with advanced lung cancer. For more information, visit Curis' website at www.curis.com.