Designed to slow down tumor growth, the FPA144 prevents the binding of fibroblast growth factors to FGF receptor 2b (FGFR2b) and is being developed initially as a monotherapy for refractory gastric cancer.
FPA144 is said to destroy tumor cells in a process called antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.
The Phase 1 clinical trial comprises two parts – enrolling unselected patients with solid tumors to explore the safety of the drug and identify a dose for expansion to test in patients with gastric cancer.
As part of the second half of the trial, gastric cancer patients will be enrolled with FGFR2b protein overexpression or FGFR2 gene amplification in their tumors.
Safety and overall response rate are the important endpoints of the trial.
Five Prime chief medical officer and senior vice president Julie Hambleton said: "Gastric cancer is the sixth most common cancer by incidence globally and approximately 15% of gastric cancer patients overexpress FGFR2b.
"Preclinical studies of FPA 144 have shown that it is highly effective in blocking the growth of gastric cancers that overexpress FGFR2b.
Five Prime is engaged in discovering and developing protein therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases.