An investigational oral HIF-2α inhibitor, NKT2152, has demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity in patients with heavily pretreated advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). These findings, presented at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain, suggest that NKT2152 could offer a meaningful new treatment option for this challenging patient population.
Efficacy of NKT2152
The ongoing phase 1/2 study (NCT05119335) evaluated the efficacy of NKT2152 in patients with advanced ccRCC. According to Eric Jonasch, MD, a professor of genitourinary medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the data clearly indicate that NKT2152 is an active agent. The study showed strong anti-tumor activity in patients who had undergone multiple prior treatments.
Clinical Implications and Future Directions
Dr. Jonasch emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, "It clearly shows that blocking HIF-2α is a meaningful way of interacting with disease biology in clear cell renal cell carcinoma." He also noted the potential benefit of having more than one agent in the same class. However, he highlighted the need for further research to understand which patients are most likely to respond to NKT2152, why resistance occurs, and what the best combination strategies might be.
Next Steps for NKT2152
The next steps for NKT2152 involve determining an appropriate registrational strategy to advance the agent as a potential treatment for patients with renal cell carcinoma. According to Dr. Jonasch, the company is currently discussing and deciding how to move forward with the development of NKT2152.
