Exscientia Acquires Full Rights to Promising Cancer Drug
Oxford, Thursday, 18 July 2024.
Exscientia has gained complete ownership of its oral CDK7 inhibitor, GTAEXS617, by buying out partner GT Apeiron for $20 million. The AI-driven biotech plans to advance the drug into breast cancer combination trials, aiming to overcome limitations of previous CDK7 inhibitors.
A Strategic Acquisition
Exscientia’s acquisition of the full rights to GTAEXS617 marks a significant step in the company’s oncology portfolio. By investing $20 million—$10 million in cash and $10 million in equity—the biotech firm has secured all intellectual property and development control of the CDK7 inhibitor. This move not only strengthens Exscientia’s drug pipeline but also positions it to address the challenges that have hindered CDK7 inhibitors in the past [1][2].
Innovation in Oncology
Exscientia, based in Oxford, England, is leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation in oncology. The company’s AI-enabled platform allows for rapid drug discovery and optimization, which has already shown promising results with GTAEXS617. The monotherapy dose-escalation phase of the ELUCIDATE trial is designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ‘617 in patients with advanced solid tumors. The phase 1 data is expected in the second half of 2024, setting the stage for further clinical trials [1][3].
Potential Benefits of GTAEXS617
GTAEXS617 is designed to inhibit CDK7, an enzyme that plays a crucial role in cell cycle regulation and transcription. By targeting CDK7, the drug aims to halt the proliferation of cancer cells, offering a potential new treatment for various solid tumors. Exscientia’s approach addresses previous limitations seen in CDK7 inhibitors, such as lack of efficacy and toxicity issues. Ben Taylor, the company’s Chief Financial and Strategy Officer, highlighted that ‘617 was specifically engineered to avoid being a transporter substrate, a common problem with competing molecules. This unique design may result in a safer and more effective treatment option [2][3].
Future Clinical Trials
Looking ahead, Exscientia plans to combine GTAEXS617 with a selective estrogen receptor degrader to treat HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients. This combination trial is expected to commence by the end of 2024, following the publication of monotherapy dose-escalation data. The company’s strategic focus on combination therapies aims to maximize the therapeutic potential of ‘617 while minimizing toxicity. If successful, these trials could pave the way for groundbreaking treatments in oncology [2][3][4].