Benzinga | Oct 7, 2021 09:05AM EDT

BridgeBio Pharma Announces First Publication Of Preclinical Data For Potentially Best-In-Class SHP2 Inhibitor Designed For Treatment Of Resistant Cancer, Showing Response In Established Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Models

BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:BBIO), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company that focuses on genetic diseases and cancers, today announced preclinical findings for its SHP2 inhibitor, BBP-398, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results are featured in a poster presentation titled 'BBP-398, a potent, small molecule inhibitor of SHP2, enhances the response of established NSCLC xenografts to KRASG12C and EGFRmut inhibitors' at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics taking place virtually on October 7 -- 10, 2021.

"We are excited to share our promising preclinical data in non-small cell lung cancer models, which provides a critical step in understanding the potential that BBP-398 has for patients with tumors driven by RAS or other MAPK-pathway activating mutations," said Eli Wallace, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at BridgeBio Oncology. "For patients with this type of progressive cancer, there is a serious need for more innovative medicines to be accessible as quickly as possible. Our potentially best-in-class SHP2 inhibitor could be an ideal combination agent for certain cancer patients given its promising profile of preclinical results and potential for once daily dosing."

BBP-398, developed in collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Therapeutics Discovery division, exhibits preclinical monotherapy efficacy in RTK/KRAS-driven xenograft models as well as synergy in combination with both sotorasib and osimertinib. The predicted human steady-state plasma concentration-time profiles suggest continuous once daily oral dosing of BBP-398 may achieve the desired therapeutic index for patients.

BridgeBio is currently advancing its Phase 1 dose escalation clinical trial with its SHP2 inhibitor, BBP-398, in patients with solid tumors driven by mutations in the MAPK signaling pathway, including RAS and receptor tyrosine kinase genes. More than 30% of all human cancers -- including 95% of pancreatic cancers and 45% of colorectal cancers -- are driven by mutations of the RAS family of genes.

BridgeBio's precision oncology programs are driven by the Company's molecular dynamics and RAS structural biology platforms, which are enabled by our broad partnerships with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and National RAS Initiative, respectively.

BridgeBio's SHP2 inhibitor, BBP-398, is one of the Company's 14 programs that are in the clinic or commercial setting for patients living with genetic diseases and genetically-driven cancers.

Learn more about the preclinical data for BBP-398 at BridgeBio's upcoming virtual R&D Day on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 8:30 am ET. The event will be webcast and registration information can be found here.

BridgeBio will unveil new programs, share new information about its pipeline and discuss how it is broadening the scope of its R&D engine. It will also cover the Company's most significant near-term catalysts with a focus on the upcoming topline results for acoramidis, BridgeBio's investigational therapy for transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis (ATTR). ATTR is a rare heart condition with a progressive and debilitating impact on quality of life likely affecting more than 400,000 patients worldwide.

Topline acoramidis results from Part A are expected in late 2021 and from Part B in 2023. The primary endpoint at Part A is the change from baseline in a 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in trial participants receiving acoramidis or placebo after 12 months. If the change from baseline in 6MWD in Part A is highly statistically significant, BridgeBio expects to submit an application for regulatory approval of acoramidis in 2022 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The R&D Day program importantly and additionally will highlight BridgeBio's broader efforts in cardiorenal, progress in its KRAS portfolio, and advancements in its previously disclosed early-stage Mendelian programs. The Company will also be unveiling new investigational programs in gene therapy.