Lantern Pharma's investigational drug candidate, LP-184, has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), the company announced December 3rd, 2024. This marks the second Fast Track Designation for LP-184 in 2024, following a previous designation for Glioblastoma (GBM) in October. The designation aims to expedite the review of drugs addressing serious conditions with unmet medical needs.
LP-184 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1A clinical trial (NCT05933265) to assess its safety and tolerability across multiple solid tumor types, including TNBC. The drug candidate was optimized using Lantern Pharma's AI platform, RADR®, to identify and validate mechanisms for eradicating challenging cancers and to gain insights into targeted patient populations.
Panna Sharma, President and CEO of Lantern Pharma, stated, "Receiving a second FDA Fast Track Designation for LP-184 reinforces the significant potential of this drug candidate to address critical unmet needs in aggressive cancers, especially those like TNBC where patients have limited therapeutics options." Sharma also noted recent data indicating LP-184's ability to sensitize TNBC tumors that are non-responsive to checkpoint inhibitors, potentially broadening treatment options.
The Need for Novel Therapies in TNBC
Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for approximately 20% of all breast cancer cases, affecting around 29,000 individuals in the United States each year. TNBC is often associated with a poorer prognosis compared to hormone receptor-positive breast cancers, with over 50% of patients experiencing relapse within the first 3-5 years. Patients with metastatic TNBC have a median overall survival of less than one year. Current treatment options are limited, especially for those who develop resistance to existing therapies.
Preclinical Efficacy of LP-184 in TNBC Models
Preclinical data indicates that LP-184 demonstrates significant anti-tumor activity in TNBC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Notably, LP-184 showed consistent efficacy in both PARP inhibitor-resistant and PARP inhibitor-sensitive tumors, resulting in complete tumor regression (107-141% tumor growth inhibition) across all models tested. These findings suggest LP-184's potential as a therapeutic option for TNBC patients, including those resistant to PARP inhibitors.
Mechanism of Action
LP-184's mechanism of action involves enzymatic activation by Prostaglandin Reductase 1 (PTGR1), which converts LP-184 into a cytotoxic form within cancer cells. The RADR® platform analysis and in-vivo studies have shown that PTGR1 is frequently elevated in TNBC tumors compared to normal tissue, making these cancers susceptible to LP-184 treatment. This biomarker-driven approach allows for the potential identification of patients most likely to respond to LP-184 therapy, aligning with precision medicine approaches in TNBC treatment.
