Company’s Lead Drug Candidates Demonstrate Therapeutic Potential in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Other Acute Leukemias
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syros Pharmaceuticals today announced that it will present new preclinical data on its lead program SY-1425 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), as well as on its first-in-class selective cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor program in acute leukemias. These data will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting taking place April 16-20 in New Orleans.
SY-1425 in Genomically Defined Subset of AML and MDS Patients
Using
its gene control platform, Syros identified a subset of AML and MDS
patients whose tumors have a super-enhancer associated with the RARA
gene that drives the increased expression of the retinoic acid receptor
alpha (RARα) transcription factor and locks the cell in an immature,
proliferative state. Syros then identified a biomarker for the RARA-associated
super-enhancer. The poster presentation at AACR details preclinical in
vitro and in vivo data showing that the RARA biomarker
is predictive of sensitivity to treatment with SY-1425 (tamibarotene),
an oral, potent and selective agonist of RARα, in models of AML. In
patient-derived xenograft models of AML, SY-1425 reduced tumor growth
and prolonged survival in mice with tumors with the RARA
biomarker but not in mice whose tumors did not have the biomarker. Syros
expects to advance SY-1425 into a Phase 2 trial this year in subsets of
AML and MDS patients whose tumors are positive for the RARA
biomarker.
Date & Time: Monday, April 18, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT
Presentation
Title: Discovery of new AML and MDS patient subsets sensitive to the
highly selective RARα agonist SY-1425 (tamibarotene) through
super-enhancer analysis
Session Title: Differentiation Therapy
Session
Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Presenter:
Michael R. McKeown, Ph.D., Scientist, Syros Pharmaceuticals
Abstract
Number: 1187
Location: Convention Center, Halls G-J, Poster Section
14
CDK7 Inhibition as a Novel Treatment Strategy for Acute Leukemias
Certain
cancers, including AML and other acute leukemias, are dependent on high
and constant expression of transcription factors for their growth and
survival, and have been shown to be particularly sensitive to selective
inhibition of the transcriptional kinase CDK7. The poster presentation
at AACR details preclinical in vitro and in vivo data
demonstrating that the Company’s selective and potent CDK7 inhibitors
induce rapid and robust apoptosis in AML cells but not in non-cancer
cells. The data also show that the CDK7 inhibitors produce a survival
benefit in patient-derived xenograft models of AML. Syros expects to
advance its CDK7 inhibitor program into a Phase 1/2 trial in the first
half of 2017 in patients with acute leukemias.
Date & Time: Wednesday, April 20, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT
Presentation
Title: Selective CDK7 inhibitors suppress super-enhancer genes, induce
massive apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia and demonstrate durable in
vivo efficacy
Session Title: Targeted Therapy
Session
Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Presenter: Yoon
J. Choi, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Syros Pharmaceuticals
Abstract
Number: 4820
Location: Convention Center, Halls G-J, Poster Section
20
About Syros Pharmaceuticals
Syros Pharmaceuticals is a
biopharmaceutical company applying a pioneering approach to discover and
develop medicines that control the expression of genes with the aim of
treating cancer and other serious diseases. Syros has built a
proprietary gene control platform that provides the Company with a
unique lens to identify crucial genes that become dysregulated in
diseased cells. Syros is leveraging its platform to develop a pipeline
of gene control medicines that it believes will provide a profound and
durable benefit for patients. The Company’s scientific founders are
world-class leaders in gene control research and translation. Launched
by Flagship Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners, Syros Pharmaceuticals is
located in Cambridge, Mass.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160316006363/en/
Media Contact:
Ten Bridge Communications, Inc.
Naomi
Aoki, 617-283-4298
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Investor
Contact:
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Jesse Baumgartner,
212-362-1200
jesse@sternir.com
Source: Syros Pharmaceuticals
Released March 16, 2016