Foghorn Therapeutics Advances Oncology Programs Targeting Chromatin Dysregulation
Key Insights
Foghorn Therapeutics' FHD-909, a SMARCA2 (search) inhibitor, is progressing in Phase 1 trials for SMARCA4 (search)-mutated cancers, with NSCLC (search) as the primary target, and combination data with pembrolizumab and KRAS (search) inhibitors will be presented at AACR.
The company achieved selective degradation of ARID1B (search), a synthetic lethal target in solid tumors (search), and plans to update on its progress in 2025, while also advancing CBP and EP300 degrader programs.
Foghorn Therapeutics is collaborating with Lilly (search) to develop novel oncology medicines, including co-development of the SMARCA2 (search) program and additional undisclosed targets.
Foghorn Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: FHTX) has announced its strategic objectives for 2025, highlighting advancements in its pipeline of oncology programs targeting genetically determined dependencies within the chromatin regulatory system. The company's lead program, FHD-909, a first-in-class oral selective SMARCA2 (search) inhibitor, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for SMARCA4 (search)-mutated cancers, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC (search)) as the primary target patient population.
FHD-909: Targeting SMARCA2 in SMARCA4-Mutated Cancers
FHD-909 (LY4050784) is designed to selectively block SMARCA2 (search) activity, a strategy intended to induce tumor death while sparing healthy cells. SMARCA4 (search) mutations are present in up to 10% of NSCLC (search) cases and are implicated in a significant number of solid tumors (search). Preclinical data on FHD-909 in combination with pembrolizumab and KRAS (search) inhibitors will be presented at the AACR Annual Meeting in April 2025.
Advancing Degrader Programs: ARID1B, CBP, and EP300
Foghorn Therapeutics has achieved selective degradation of ARID1B (search), a major synthetic lethal target implicated in up to 5% of all solid tumors (search). ARID1A mutations lead to a dependency on ARID1B in several cancer types, including ovarian, endometrial, colorectal, and bladder cancers. The company plans to provide a program update on its Selective ARID1B degrader program in 2025.
In addition to ARID1B (search), Foghorn is also advancing its Selective CBP degrader and Selective EP300 degrader programs. The CBP degrader targets CBP in EP300-mutated cancer cells, found in bladder, gastric, and endometrial cancers. The EP300 degrader is being developed for hematopoietic malignancies (search) and prostate cancer (search). Preclinical data demonstrate that these degraders are well-tolerated in vivo and exhibit robust anti-tumor activity.
Strategic Collaboration with Lilly
Foghorn Therapeutics is collaborating with Lilly (search) to create novel oncology medicines. This collaboration includes a U.S. 50/50 co-development and co-commercialization agreement for Foghorn's selective SMARCA2 (search) oncology program, agreements for a selective inhibitor and a selective degrader, and an additional undisclosed oncology target. The collaboration also includes three discovery programs from Foghorn's proprietary Gene Traffic Control® platform.
Financial Position
As of December 31, 2024, Foghorn Therapeutics had $243.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, providing a cash runway into 2027. This strong financial position supports the company's ongoing research and development efforts across its pipeline programs.