Synta Initiates Phase 2 clinical Study For NSCLC Drug

Synta Pharmaceuticals (Synta) has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study of STA-9090 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). STA-9090, a potent, synthetic, small molecule Hsp90 inhibitor with a new chemical structure.

Geoffrey Shapiro, co-principal investigator on the trial, said: “Results presented at the AACR meeting in April 2009 and the Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics meeting in November 2009 demonstrated that the Hsp90 inhibitor STA-9090 has greater potency compared to the first generation Hsp90 inhibitors, such as 17-AAG, to destabilise critical oncoproteins and components of their signaling pathways, including EGFR, ERBB2, KRAS, BRAF and MET.

“These preclinical results, along with early clinical data from the Phase 1 solid tumor trials, where instances of prolonged stable disease and responses per RECIST criteria have been observed, support initiation of a proof-of-concept study of STA-9090 in NSCLC.”

Synta also announced that additional preclinical results on STA-9090 in lung cancer will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research-International Association for the study of lung cancer (AACR-IASLC) Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer on January 12, 2010 in Coronado, California.