Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Announces Overview of Clinical and Preclinical Data Presented at AACR

Rhea-AI Summary

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL) recently presented promising clinical data for its lead candidate, ZN-c3, at the AACR Annual Meeting. The combination of ZN-c3 with chemotherapy showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 30.2% in advanced ovarian cancer patients. Additionally, in patients with uterine serous carcinoma (USC), ZN-c3 achieved a 27.3% ORR and a 90.9% disease control rate with notable tolerability. The results suggest ZN-c3's potential as a significant therapeutic option in treating advanced cancers.

Positive

• ZN-c3 demonstrated a strong 30.2% ORR in advanced ovarian cancer, with one cohort achieving up to 62.5%.
• In USC patients, ZN-c3 showed a 27.3% ORR and a 90.9% DCR.
• The safety profile of ZN-c3 is reportedly better tolerated than its competing Wee1 inhibitors.

Negative

• None.

ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated strong anti-tumor activity in a heavily pretreated population, with an ORR of 30.2% across all evaluable chemotherapy cohorts

ZN-c3 demonstrated an ORR of 27.3% and a DCR of 90.9% in patients with uterine serous carcinoma (USC), presented at a mini symposium on April 11, 2022

NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, April 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers, today announced a summary of clinical and preclinical data reviewed during the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, being held in New Orleans, Louisiana from April 8-13, 2022.

Dr. Anthony Sun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zentalis, commented, “The data presented at AACR demonstrate the encouraging anti-tumor activity and tolerability of our potentially best-in-class candidates across our pipeline. Following the positive initial data of ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer patients reviewed at AACR, today we presented a mini symposium presentation on our Phase 1 expansion cohort of ZN-c3 in USC patients. ZN-c3 showed robust clinical activity in an advanced, sicker patient population (57% had prior pembrolizumab/lenvatinib use), specifically demonstrating a deepening of tumor response, which included one patient who achieved an unconfirmed complete response. We believe ZN-c3’s anti-tumor activity and tolerability profile observed to date has the potential to address a significant unmet need for improved therapeutic options in advanced USC patients.”

Recap of Clinical and Preclinical Updates Presented During AACR

Advanced ovarian cancer – Initial update from the Phase 1b trial of ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy

• As of the January 28, 2022, data cutoff (n=43 evaluable), ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated strong anti-tumor activity in a heavily pretreated population, with an Objective Response Rate (ORR) of 30.2% across all evaluable chemotherapy cohorts – achieving up to 62.5% with one cohort (n=8 evaluable).
• ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy was well-tolerated and exhibited lower hematologic toxicity and a better gastrointestinal tolerability profile in a cross-trial comparison to the Wee1 inhibitor class.

Uterine serous carcinoma – Interim data from the Phase 1 monotherapy expansion cohort in patients dosed ≥300mg QD was presented at a mini symposium earlier today:

• As of the January 21, 2022 data cutoff (n=11 evaluable), ZN-c3 demonstrated an ORR of 27.3%, a Disease Control Rate (DCR) of 90.9% and included one subject who achieved an unconfirmed complete response.
• In a cross-trial comparison, the overall safety profile of ZN-c3 suggests that it is better tolerated than a competing Wee1 inhibitor.

Preclinical poster updates

• The three posters demonstrated the broad potential of ZN-c3 in multiple settings including AML, PARP-resistant ovarian cancer, and in novel biology when combined with Zentalis’ BCL-2 inhibitor, ZN-d5.
• CAMPRO – CAspase Mediated PROteolysis (CAMPRO) describes novel biology elucidated by Zentalis that demonstrates the synergy between BCL-2 and Wee1 inhibition. Zentalis is the only company to have both a Wee1 inhibitor (ZN-c3) and a BCL-2 inhibitor (ZN-d5) in clinical development.
• These findings further support ZN-c3 as a potential cornerstone treatment, creating a significant market opportunity across a broad range of solid and liquid tumors.
  

About Zentalis Pharmaceuticals

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule therapeutics targeting fundamental biological pathways of cancers. The Company is developing a broad pipeline of potentially best-in-class oncology candidates, all internally discovered, which include ZN-c3, a Wee1 inhibitor for advanced solid tumors, ZN-c5, an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) for ER+/HER2- breast cancer, ZN-d5, a BCL-2 inhibitor for hematologic malignancies and related disorders, ZN-e4, an EGFR inhibitor for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and a heterobifunctional degrader of BCL-xL for solid and hematological malignancies. The Company has licensed ZN-c3, ZN-c5 and ZN-d5 to its joint venture, Zentera Therapeutics, to develop and commercialize these candidates in China. Zentalis has operations in both New York and San Diego.

For more information, please visit www.zentalis.com. Follow Zentalis on Twitter at @ZentalisP and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zentalis-pharmaceuticals.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding our expectations surrounding the development, potential, safety, efficacy, and regulatory and clinical progress of our product candidates in the United States and globally, plans and timing for the initiation of and the release of data from our clinical trials and our ability to meet other key milestones. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted and may continue to adversely impact our business, including our preclinical studies and clinical trials; our limited operating history, which may make it difficult to evaluate our current business and predict our future success and viability; we have and expect to continue to incur significant losses; our need for additional funding, which may not be available; our substantial dependence on the success of our lead product candidates; failure to identify additional product candidates and develop or commercialize marketable products; the early stage of our development efforts; potential unforeseen events during clinical trials could cause delays or other adverse consequences; risks relating to the regulatory approval process or ongoing regulatory obligations; failure to obtain U.S. or international marketing approval; our product candidates may cause serious adverse side effects; inability to maintain our collaborations, or the failure of these collaborations; our reliance on third parties; effects of significant competition; the possibility of system failures or security breaches; risks relating to intellectual property; our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; and significant costs as a result of operating as a public company; and the other important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and our other filings with the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

Investor Contact:
Alexandra Roy
Solebury Trout
aroy@soleburytrout.com

Media Contact:
Julia Deutsch
Solebury Trout
jdeutsch@soleburytrout.com

FAQ

What were the results of ZN-c3 in the recent clinical trials?

ZN-c3 showed a 30.2% ORR in advanced ovarian cancer and 27.3% ORR in uterine serous carcinoma.

What is the significance of the disease control rate for ZN-c3?

The disease control rate for ZN-c3 in USC patients was 90.9%, indicating effective disease management.

How does ZN-c3's safety profile compare to other treatments?

ZN-c3 is noted to have better tolerability compared to other Wee1 inhibitors.

When was the AACR Annual Meeting where ZN-c3 results were presented?

The AACR Annual Meeting took place from April 8-13, 2022.

What is Zentalis Pharmaceuticals' focus in oncology?

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing small molecule therapeutics targeting cancer pathways.