The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) has received clearance to resume patient enrollment in a significant Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating seclidemstat in combination with azacitidine for advanced blood cancers, following the lifting of an FDA partial clinical hold.
The trial, which focuses on treating myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), has already shown promising results. Data presented at the June 2024 European Hematology Association Annual Meeting revealed a 43% overall response rate among 14 patients with predominantly higher-risk disease who had previously failed hypomethylating agent therapy.
Significant Survival Benefits Observed
The interim results demonstrated remarkable survival outcomes, with patients achieving a median overall survival of 18.5 months (95% CI, 6.1-30.9 months) and median event-free survival of 7.2 months (95% CI, 6.3-8.2 months). These findings are particularly significant given that patients who fail hypomethylating agent therapy typically survive only four to six months.
Novel Mechanism of Action
Seclidemstat represents an innovative approach to treating blood cancers as a novel oral reversible inhibitor of the LSD1 enzyme. Preclinical studies have shown that LSD1 inhibition can reprogram cancer cell differentiation, reduce tumor burden, and extend survival in animal models.
Trial Status and Recent Developments
The study (NCT04734990) was temporarily paused in July 2024 when the FDA implemented a partial clinical hold following a serious and unexpected adverse event. MDACC has since addressed the FDA's concerns, leading to the hold being lifted.
"Coming off partial clinical hold is welcome news for Salarius stakeholders and for patients with advanced MDS and CMML, and we are excited for MDACC to enroll additional patients and build upon seclidemstat's growing clinical database," said David Arthur, President and CEO of Salarius Pharmaceuticals.
Corporate Development Context
This clinical progress comes amid significant corporate changes for Salarius Pharmaceuticals. The company recently announced a merger agreement with Decoy Therapeutics, Inc., which will result in the formation of a new entity named Decoy Therapeutics. While the merger will shift the company's focus toward peptide conjugate therapeutics, the ongoing seclidemstat trial at MDACC will continue to receive support as strategic alternatives are evaluated.
The trial's resumption marks an important milestone in developing new treatment options for patients with limited alternatives, particularly those who have exhausted standard therapeutic approaches for MDS and CMML.
