Aprea Therapeutics(US:APRE) Globenewswireยท2025-03-11 12:30Core Viewpoint - Aprea Therapeutics has entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with MD Anderson Cancer Center to supply its WEE1 kinase inhibitor, APR-1051, for preclinical research on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) [1][2][3] Group 1: Agreement and Research Goals - The agreement allows MD Anderson to conduct preclinical experiments to generate efficacy and mechanistic data for future clinical trials [2] - The research aims to characterize the therapeutic potential of APR-1051 in treating both HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC tumors [2][3] - The project is overseen by leading experts in head and neck cancers, Professors Jeffrey N. Myers and Abdullah A. Osman [2] Group 2: Clinical Significance and Background - HNSCC, particularly HPV-associated cases, poses significant clinical challenges, with approximately 70% of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) cases in the US linked to HPV [4] - Previous studies at MD Anderson indicated that HPV+ HNSCC tumor lines are sensitive to WEE1 kinase inhibition, suggesting a promising therapeutic target [4] - The inhibition of WEE1 kinase may enhance the sensitivity of cancer cells to existing treatments, representing a novel therapeutic strategy [3] Group 3: Product Information - APR-1051 is a potent and selective small molecule designed to address tolerability challenges and potentially achieve greater clinical activity than other WEE1 inhibitors [6] - The candidate is currently being evaluated in the ongoing ACESOT-1051 clinical trial for advanced solid tumors with cancer-associated gene alterations [6] - Aprea retains all rights to APR-1051 under the terms of the agreement with MD Anderson [5] Group 4: Company Overview - Aprea Therapeutics focuses on innovative cancer treatments that exploit vulnerabilities in cancer cell mutations while minimizing damage to healthy cells [7] - The company's lead programs include APR-1051 and ATRN-119, both in clinical development for solid tumor indications [7]