Kintara Therapeutics Announces Issuance of New US Patent Related to VAL-083 and MGMT Resistance: Implications for Targeting Brain Tumor Stem Cells

Rhea-AI Summary

Kintara Therapeutics has received U.S. Patent No. 11,234,955, allowing for claims on a method to treat brain tumors, including glioblastoma, that are resistant to current therapies due to the MGMT enzyme. VAL-083, the patented compound, demonstrates anti-neoplastic activity against malignant brain tumor cells expressing MGMT, offering treatment options for both newly diagnosed and recurrent patients. The patent also covers VAL-083's efficacy against medulloblastoma and tumor stem cells, which may lead to improved patient outcomes.

Positive

• Issuance of U.S. Patent No. 11,234,955 strengthens Kintara's position in brain tumor treatment.
• VAL-083 shows potential as an effective therapy for glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, overcoming MGMT-driven drug resistance.

Negative

• None.

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kintara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTRA) ("Kintara" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new solid tumor cancer therapies, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued to Kintara United States Patent No. 11,234,955 covering a method of treating brain tumors including glioblastoma (GBM), medulloblastoma, and cancer brain tumor stem cells that has O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)-driven drug resistance.

The patent allows for claims recognizing the unique anti-neoplastic activity of VAL-083 on malignant brain tumor cells, in particular those cells that express the DNA repair enzyme MGMT. The MGMT repair enzyme is the principal resistance mechanism that limits significant therapeutic benefit for GBM patients receiving temozolomide (TMZ), the current first line therapy. VAL-083's activity is independent of MGMT and provides clinical treatment opportunities for newly-diagnosed patients who express the enzyme as well as recurrent patients who fail TMZ treatment. Moreover, MGMT is a biomarker used in the diagnosis of a patient's brain tumor and helps clinicians to understand the patient's prognosis.

In addition to the antiproliferative activity in GBM, the patent covers the significant activity of VAL-083 for medulloblastoma, another deadly form of brain tumor, as well as the opportunity to target brain tumor stem cells, perhaps the ultimate cause of brain tumor therapy resistance. Medulloblastomas are invasive, rapidly growing, and are a common type of brain tumor in children.

"The effect of VAL-083 on brain tumor stem cells represents a unique advance," Dennis Brown, Ph.D., Kintara's Chief Scientific Officer said. "These undifferentiated stem cells are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy and are thought to represent the source of most brain tumor recurrences. We believe the ability to target these stem cells with VAL-083 may offer clinicians additional approaches to improve patient treatment outcomes."

About Kintara

Located in San Diego, California, Kintara is dedicated to the development of novel cancer therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. Kintara is developing two late-stage, Phase 3-ready therapeutics for clear unmet medical needs with reduced risk development programs.  The two programs are VAL-083 for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and REM-001 for Cutaneous Metastatic Breast Cancer (CMBC).

VAL-083 is a "first-in-class", small-molecule chemotherapeutic with a novel mechanism of action that has demonstrated clinical activity against a range of cancers, including central nervous system, ovarian and other solid tumors (e.g., NSCLC, bladder cancer, head and neck) in U.S. clinical trials sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Based on Kintara's internal research programs and these prior NCI-sponsored clinical studies, Kintara is currently advancing VAL-083 in the GBM AGILE study to support the development and commercialization of VAL-083 in GBM.

Kintara is also advancing its proprietary, late-stage photodynamic therapy platform that holds promise as a localized cutaneous, or visceral, tumor treatment as well as in other potential indications. REM-001 therapy has been previously studied in four Phase 2/3 clinical trials in patients with CMBC who had previously received chemotherapy and/or failed radiation therapy. With clinical efficacy to date of 80% complete responses of CMBC evaluable lesions, and with an existing robust safety database of approximately 1,100 patients across multiple indications, Kintara is advancing the REM-001 CMBC program to late-stage pivotal testing.

For more information, please visit www.kintara.com or follow us on Twitter at @Kintara_Thera, Facebook and Linkedin.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the status of the Company's clinical trials and the GBM AGILE study. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and clinical trials; the Company's ability to develop, market and sell products based on its technology; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company's products and technology; the availability of substantial additional funding for the Company to continue its operations and to conduct research and development, clinical studies and future product commercialization; and, the Company's business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K.

CONTACTS

Investors:
CORE IR
516-222-2560
ir@coreir.com

Media:
Jules Abraham
CORE IR
917-885-7378
julesa@coreir.com

 

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SOURCE Kintara Therapeutics

FAQ

What is the significance of Kintara's new patent issued on February 3, 2022?

The patent covers a method for treating brain tumors resistant to standard therapies, enhancing Kintara's development of VAL-083.

How does VAL-083 address MGMT-driven resistance in brain tumors?

VAL-083 operates independently of the MGMT enzyme, allowing for effective treatment in patients who do not respond to temozolomide.

What types of brain tumors can VAL-083 potentially treat?

VAL-083 is aimed at treating glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, as well as targeting brain tumor stem cells.

What future implications does this patent have for Kintara Therapeutics?

The patent could enhance Kintara's market position and encourage further investment in its clinical development programs.