Quanta Therapeutics has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for QTX3544, an oral G12V-preferring, dual ON/OFF state, multi-KRAS inhibitor. This clearance allows Quanta to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for patients with KRASG12V-driven solid tumors. The company has also initiated the combination portion of the Phase 1 clinical trial for QTX3046, an oral KRASG12D-selective dual ON/OFF state allosteric inhibitor, with cetuximab. Additionally, the Phase 1 clinical trial for QTX3034, an oral G12D-preferring multi-KRAS inhibitor, is ongoing, with data expected in 2025. These advancements signify Quanta's commitment to developing innovative, oral therapeutics for RAS-driven cancers.
Advancing KRAS-Targeted Therapies
Quanta Therapeutics is focused on developing therapies that target RAS-driven cancers, which are implicated in nearly one-quarter of all human cancers. The company's pipeline includes three KRAS inhibitor programs: QTX3034, QTX3046, and QTX3544. These inhibitors are designed to address the limitations of first-generation KRAS inhibitors, which primarily target the G12C mutation. By targeting other prevalent KRAS mutations like G12D and G12V, Quanta aims to broaden the range of treatable KRAS-driven cancers.
Clinical Trial Updates
The Phase 1 clinical trial for QTX3544 will enroll patients with KRASG12V mutations in dose escalation cohorts, both as a monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab. The combination of allosteric KRAS inhibition with EGFR blockade, as seen with cetuximab, is intended to enhance the depth and durability of tumor response, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This approach mirrors the clinical validation observed with adagrasib in KRASG12C-mutated CRC.
The ongoing Phase 1 trial of QTX3046 is also evaluating the drug in combination with cetuximab. Similarly, the Phase 1 trial of QTX3034 continues to enroll patients, with data anticipated in 2025. These trials are being conducted at clinical sites in the U.S., with endpoints including safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic properties, antitumor activity, and molecular marker analysis.
Scientific Rationale
KRAS mutations impair the ability of RAS to convert from its active GTP-bound “ON” form into its inactive GDP-bound “OFF” state, leading to sustained activation of the MAPK signaling pathway and tumorigenesis. Quanta's inhibitors, including QTX3544, QTX3046, and QTX3034, are designed to selectively inhibit KRAS mutations in both the ON and OFF states, potentially offering a more comprehensive approach to treating KRAS-driven cancers.
Leadership Perspective
"With the initiation of the Phase 1 clinical trial for QTX3544 in patients with KRASG12V-driven solid tumors, we will have three KRAS inhibitor programs in the clinic focused on the most prevalent KRAS-driven cancers," said Leonardo Faoro, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer of Quanta Therapeutics. Perry Nisen, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Quanta, added, "Powered by our proprietary research and translational platform, we believe our pipeline of oral KRAS inhibitors, designed to provide potent and selective direct inhibition of KRAS mutations, in both the ON and OFF state, can significantly broaden the range of treatable KRAS-driven cancers beyond G12C."
