Opna Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel oncology therapeutics, announced promising preclinical data from the company’s novel, multi-functional protein degrader program and positive updated data from an ongoing Phase 1 combination study with OPN-2853, a bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) inhibitor, as an add-on to ruxolitinib in patients with advanced myelofibrosis.
Multi-Functional Degraders Designed to Block Key Oncogenic Pathways Using Single Chemical Entity
Opna’s novel protein degraders are designed to block multiple oncogenic targets – EP300, CBP, IKZF1 and IKZF3 – concurrently in the same cancer cell, achieving potent single agent anti-tumor activity. EP300, CBP, IKZF1 and IKZF3 are known to promote the progression of multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer derived from malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. In a proof-of-concept OPM-2 multiple myeloma model, OPN-5667 potently reduced the levels of key oncoproteins in vitro and caused tumor regression in all treated animals in vivo. Opna’s medicinal chemistry campaign has produced compounds with improved potency and pharmacological properties, advancing the program towards clinical candidate selection.
The degrader program is built on foundational studies presented at ASH in 2024 with OPN-6602, an oral EP300/CBP inhibitor, in combination with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs). The combination resulted in strong synergy in vivo including complete regressions and improved response durability. A Phase 1 study of OPN-6602 is currently enrolling patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma at multiple sites in the U.S.
