Benzinga | Oct 7, 2021 09:21AM EDT

Curis Announces New Preclinical Data Highlighting Potential Of CA-4948 In Multiple Hematologic Malignancies Presented At AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual Conference

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced two poster presentations with new preclinical data for CA-4948, a first-in-class small molecule IRAK4 inhibitor, at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.

"In ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials, CA-4948 has already demonstrated anti-tumor activity in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. New preclinical data presented at AACR-NCI-EORTC today support the potential of CA-4948 in additional hematologic cancers," said James Dentzer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Curis.

"Notably, these new preclinical data indicate that CA-4948 is synergistic with small molecules targeting BCR signaling, including both idelalisib and ibrutinib, and suggest it may help overcome or reduce secondary resistance to these therapies in marginal zone lymphoma. In addition, these data demonstrate that CA-4948 can cross the blood brain barrier and improve survival, in a dose-dependent manner, providing additional preclinical support for the study of CA-4948 in patients with primary central nervous system (pCNS) lymphoma, one of the most aggressive forms of lymphoma and a clear area of unmet need for patients." Mr. Dentzer added.

Details of the presentations are as follows:

* Title: Pharmacological inhibition of IRAK-4 with CA-4948 is beneficial in marginal zone lymphoma models with secondary resistance to PI3K and BTK inhibitors

* Author: Francesca Guidetti, Institute of Oncology Research, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, USI, Bellinzona, Switzerland

* Poster Number: P073

* Title: The IRAK4 inhibitor CA-4948 demonstrates antitumor activity in a preclinical model of CNS lymphoma

* Author: Christina A. von Roemeling, Ph.D., Research Associate, UF Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida

* Poster Number: P243

Additional meeting information can be found on the AACR website at:

https://www.aacr.org/meeting/aacr-nci-eortc-international-conference-on-molecular-targets-and-cancer-therapeutics/program/.

The presentations will also be available under "Posters and Presentations" in the Pipeline: CA-4948 section of the Company's website at www.curis.com