Strand Therapeutics has revealed groundbreaking preclinical data for its STX-003 program, a systemically delivered programmable mRNA therapy designed to target solid tumors. The company will present these findings at the 2025 annual meetings of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Chicago and the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) in New Orleans.
The preclinical studies demonstrate that Strand's proprietary programmable mRNA genetic circuits can successfully target the expression of interleukin-12 (IL-12) specifically to cancerous tissue while minimizing expression in healthy tissues. This approach aims to achieve optimal therapeutic dosing while reducing off-target side effects that have historically limited the use of systemic IL-12 therapies.
"The results from the Strand STX-003 preclinical studies are unprecedented. For the first time, systemically delivered programmable mRNA was used to safely target expression of IL-12 into cancerous tissue while inhibiting expression in healthy tissue," said Jacob Becraft, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Strand Therapeutics.
Innovative Approach to Solid Tumor Treatment
STX-003 consists of a systemically delivered, self-replicating mRNA encoding IL-12. What distinguishes this therapy is its sophisticated control system – programmable mRNA genetic circuitry that restricts the expression of the IL-12 payload to the tumor microenvironment.
Systemic delivery offers significant advantages for treating solid tumors, particularly those that are not surface accessible. However, systemic administration of potent cytokines like IL-12 has historically been challenging due to toxicity concerns. STX-003's genetic circuits are engineered to sense the unique molecular signatures of different cell types, ensuring the therapeutic payload is primarily produced within target tumor tissues while being inhibited in healthy areas.
This precision targeting approach could potentially unlock the full therapeutic potential of IL-12, a powerful cytokine with known anti-tumor properties, for treating a range of solid tumors including hard-to-reach visceral tumors.
Upcoming Scientific Presentations
The company will present key findings from its preclinical studies at two major scientific conferences:
At AACR (April 25-30, 2025), Strand will present a poster titled "STX-003: cancer immunotherapy with systemic delivery of mRNA utilizing programmable genetic circuits for precise regulation of IL-12 expression and reduced toxicity" on April 28.
At ASGCT (May 13-17, 2025), the company will deliver an oral presentation titled "STX-003: A mRNA Cancer Immunotherapy Utilizing Cancer-Selective Programmable Genetic Circuits for Systemic Tumor Control" on May 17.
These presentations will detail the functionality of STX-003's genetic circuitry and its impact on both efficacy and tolerability when systemically delivered.
Building on Clinical Progress
The STX-003 program builds on Strand's broader progress in developing programmable mRNA therapeutics. In 2023, the company received FDA clearance for its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for STX-001, another mRNA therapy that expresses IL-12 but is delivered intratumorally rather than systemically.
Strand has already dosed its first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial for STX-001 in 2024, demonstrating the company's ability to translate its innovative mRNA technology from laboratory research into clinical development.
The early discovery work for STX-003 was supported by funding from Wellcome Leap, a nonprofit organization focused on accelerating breakthroughs in human health.
About Strand Therapeutics
Founded by leaders with roots in mRNA-based synthetic biology at MIT, Strand Therapeutics is developing first-in-class programmable mRNA therapeutics. The company's platform enables precise control of the location, timing, intensity, and duration of therapeutic activity.
Strand's approach represents a significant advancement in the field of mRNA therapeutics, potentially offering new treatment options for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
