The company Imago Biosciences, which focuses on developing anti-cancer therapies, is carrying out a Phase 1/2a clinical study of an investigational drug called IMG-7289 as a potential treatment for high-risk acute myeloid leukaemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Imago has announced that this study is fully enrolled, with 45 patients taking part. For more detailed information about this, you can read the source press release here, at Imago Biosciences’ website.
About Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a form of cancer that affects the white blood cells. According to the NHS website, AML develops when stem cells in the bone marrow make too many immature white blood cells (blast cells). This can cause a decrease in red blood cells and platelets.
AML is an aggressive form of cancer that progresses quickly. The NHS’s list of the typical symptoms of the disease includes pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness, susceptibility to infections, and frequent bleeding, such as from nosebleeds or gums.
Cancer is high-risk when it is likely to reoccur or spread.
About Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) is a form of blood cancer characterised by low levels of healthy red, white, and platelet blood cells. According to the NHS, people who have MDS have bone marrow that doesn’t produce enough of these healthy cells, and instead makes immature versions of them. Eventually, they begin to replace the healthy copies of these cells. Different people experience MDS differently, and its effects vary a lot between people with the condition. There are many types of MDS, and in some cases it can develop into AML.
About the Study
The study was made up of two parts; the first part, a Phase 1 study, has now been completed, and the second part, a Phase 2a expansion, is still occurring. The study was designed to evaluate the safety of IMG-7289, as well as its pharmacokinetics (how the drug is processed within the body), pharmacodynamics (what the drug does to the body), and its anti-neoplastic activity (effect on reducing tumour growth).
The Phase 1 part of the study was a multiple ascending dose trial that investigated the effects of IMG-7289 when used as a single agent. Following this, the study continued on to the Phase 2a expansion, which is still on-going. This portion is designed to investigate IMG-7289 given in combination with ATRA for a long period.
About IMG-7289
The investigational drug IMG-7289 is a small molecule that works by inhibiting the enzyme LSD1 (lysine-specific demethylase), which has been found to play an important role in supporting the self-renewal of cancer stem or progenitor cells, and, in particular, neoplastic bone marrow cells.
Other Research into the Drug
Previous non-clinical studies have found that IMG-7289 shows effective anti-tumour properties in vivo in several myeloid malignancies and myeloproliferative neoplasm models. This is the case when it is used as a single agent, as well as when it’s combined with another therapy.
Another on-going Phase 1/2a clinical study is still enrolling patients. It is designed to investigate the effects of IMG-7289 on high-risk myelofibrosis in adult patients.
