Avacta, a British biotech company, is advancing cancer treatment through its pre|CISION™ platform, which enables targeted drug delivery to tumors, sparing healthy tissue. The company presented updated data from its Phase 1 trials of AVA6000 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona in September 2024, demonstrating promising results and durable responses in patients with high levels of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in their tumors. Notably, responses were also observed in tumors with low FAP activity, potentially broadening the application of these treatments.
AVA6000: A Targeted Chemotherapy Approach
AVA6000, Avacta's lead drug candidate, is a modified form of doxorubicin designed to be more precise. Traditional doxorubicin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug, is associated with significant side effects due to its systemic distribution. AVA6000 is designed to release the active drug specifically within the tumor microenvironment, reducing toxicity and improving tolerability for patients. Early trial results indicate that patients are tolerating the treatment well, with some showing signs of tumor shrinkage even in cases where standard treatments have failed.
Expansion of Oncology Pipeline
Avacta recently expanded its oncology pipeline with two new assets, AVA6103 and AVA7100, both leveraging the pre|CISION™ technology. AVA6103 is designed to deliver exatecan, a potent topoisomerase I inhibitor, directly into the tumor. Exatecan has shown promise in treating various cancers, but its use has been limited by severe side effects. Avacta’s technology aims to overcome this by releasing the drug only inside the tumor, reducing systemic toxicity.
AVA7100, a pre|CISION™-enabled Affimer® drug conjugate, represents a new class of treatments. The Affimer® platform offers a versatile alternative to traditional antibodies, potentially targeting cancers even with lower FAP activity, further broadening Avacta’s therapeutic scope.
Strategic Focus on Oncology
Avacta is strategically focusing on becoming a pure-play oncology company. The company is in the process of divesting its Diagnostics Division to concentrate its resources on developing next-generation cancer therapies. With over £32 million in cash from a recent fundraising round, Avacta is well-positioned to advance its oncology pipeline.
Leadership and Future Prospects
Avacta has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Dr. Michelle Morrow as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Morrow's extensive experience in oncology drug development, including roles at F-star Therapeutics and AstraZeneca, will be crucial as Avacta continues to advance its pipeline.
The company is also gearing up for its R&D Spotlight event on October 30, 2024, where it will reveal the latest developments in its next-generation cancer therapies. As Avacta progresses through clinical trials, particularly with AVA6000, the company is poised for growth and could potentially deliver groundbreaking treatments that change the way cancer is treated.
