The preclinical collaboration is being conducted with Marina Konopleva, associate professor in the Department of Leukemia at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The research collaboration will focus on characterizing the therapeutic efficacy of TH-302 as monotherapy and in combination with conventional chemotherapeutics in both in vitro and in vivo models of leukemia.
The company has also released an early Phase 1 clinical trial results of TH-302 in patients with advanced leukemias, which is also taking place at MD Anderson.
TH-302 is a proprietary Hypoxia-Activated Prodrug (HAP) that specifically targets tumor hypoxia.
Preliminary efficacy assessments have demonstrated activity in multiple subjects with relapsed/refractory AML and ALL as evidenced by stabilization or reduction of bone marrow blast counts.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Leukemia associate professor Deborah Thomas said in the initial three dosing cohorts, TH-302 has been well tolerated with no significant drug related toxicities.