Curadev Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are expanding their strategic collaboration through the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program to advance development of CRD3874-SI, a small-molecule allosteric Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) agonist for systemic delivery to patients with advanced and metastatic cancer.
Building on Promising Clinical Results
The expanded collaboration builds on an ongoing Phase 1a/b dose escalation and expansion clinical trial (NCT06021626) currently underway at MSK for sarcoma and Merkel cell carcinoma patients. The partnership aims to explore CRD3874-SI's therapeutic potential in treating additional types of cancer beyond these initial indications.
Dr. William Tap, Chief of the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service at MSK, emphasized the compound's promising early results: "CRD3874-SI has demonstrated an encouraging safety and efficacy profile in a first-in-human study at MSK. CRD3874-SI is moving forward into multiple solid-tumor expansion cohorts, guided by disease specific experts and the support and structure of the MSK Accelerator Program."
First-in-Class STING Pathway Innovation
CRD3874-SI represents a novel first-in-class allosteric STING agonist designed for systemic administration. The STING pathway plays a crucial role in innate immune activation and represents a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Tap noted that the compound "has the potential to offer patients a new treatment option with continued innovation and exploration of the benefits of immunotherapy in cancer care."
Dr. Arjun Surya, Co-founder and CEO of Curadev, expressed optimism about the early clinical data: "We are encouraged by the early readouts with CRD3874-SI systemic monotherapy from our ongoing clinical trial in patients with treatment refractory cancers at MSK."
Strategic Partnership Structure
Through the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program, MSK will provide Curadev with comprehensive expertise and institutional resources, including medical, clinical, and regulatory advice to further CRD3874-SI's development. The collaboration will be overseen by Dr. William Tap and Ciara Kelly, MBBCh BAO, Interim Clinical Director of MSK's Sarcoma Oncology Service.
The MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program represents a strategic partnership initiative between MSK and biotechnology companies designed to advance novel cancer therapeutics through all stages of drug development. The program brings together innovative healthcare companies with MSK's community of clinical and scientific experts to establish collaborations aimed at impacting cancer treatment and management.
Company Background and Development Pipeline
Curadev is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing novel small-molecule therapeutics for treating intractable diseases. The company has built a portfolio of discovery research programs using a target-centric approach, innovative screening schemes, and traditional wet-lab chemistry and pharmacology, resulting in patent-protected drug candidates that modulate next-generation drug targets.
Curadev Pharma, Inc., the US-based clinical development subsidiary founded in 2021, is currently leading Phase 1/2 trials of STING agonist assets under a US FDA-approved IND application. Dr. Surya highlighted the significance of the partnership: "The research and development collaboration between oncologists at MSK and the inventors of CRD3874-SI at Curadev could become a role model for advancing bench to bedside medicines."
