Sunesis presents promising anticancer data

Sunesis’ Aurora kinase inhibitors target cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle. In vivo results demonstrate robust activity, including significant tumor growth retardation, exceeding 80% in multiple solid tumor mouse models. These results were consistent with compounds administered either orally or intraperitoneally.

“We are very pleased by the broad and consistent preclinical anti-tumor activity demonstrated by our Aurora kinase inhibitors across multiple models,” said Dr Daniel Adelman, senior vice president of drug discovery and development for Sunesis.

“Kinases have long represented a significant opportunity for pharmaceutical development, and Sunesis’ fragment-based drug discovery approach has enabled us to overcome key challenges involved with discovery of potent, selective kinase inhibitors and to rapidly advance our molecules forward.”

Sunesis has built a portfolio of preclinical and development stage product candidates in oncology focused on novel pathways and targets, including inhibiting cell cycle and survival signaling.

In addition to the Aurora kinase program, Sunesis is conducting phase I clinical trials for its lead compound, SNS-595, a cell-cycle modulator that acts on proliferating cancer cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, or cell death. In cooperation with Biogen Idec, Sunesis is also developing novel small molecule inhibitors of Raf and other oncology kinases.