Additionally, the company has announced a change in its name from Reata Discovery, Inc to Reata Pharmaceuticals Inc to reflect the clinical status of its drug development programs.
RTA 744 is a novel anthracycline derivative that crosses the blood-brain barrier and shows significant potential for the treatment of primary and metastatic brain cancers. Anthracyclines are one of the most broadly used and effective classes of cancer therapies but are not used to treat brain cancers because current therapies do not cross the blood-brain barrier.
A phase I clinical trial of RTA 744 in patients with advanced primary brain cancers is scheduled to begin at two leading neuro-oncology centers in the coming months. This trial will set a safe human dose for RTA 744, and will provide additional information on the drug’s efficacy and side effects.
The initial indication for RTA 744 is in patients with advanced brain tumors who have failed previous therapies. This is an area of high unmet need, with few effective treatment options. Reata also plans to extend the development program to include patients with central nervous system metastases, as well as combinations with other brain cancer therapies.
“We are very pleased that RTA 744 has been approved for testing in the clinic,” said Warren Huff, president and CEO of Reata. “This drug has a proven mechanism of action and could represent a significant new treatment option for patients with central nervous system cancers.”