Last fall, we announced our collaboration with Musella Foundation, xCures, The Cure Starts Now Foundation, Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, and Oncoceutics to help patients access ONC201, a new, experimental treatment for a type of brain tumor known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), as well as other gliomas with a genetic mutation known as H3 K27M. Oncoceutics now reports the publication of a case study of a 10-year-old patient for whom ONC201 provided noteworthy results:
Philadelphia, PA (April 9, 2019) – Oncoceutics announced today the publication of an article entitled “First clinical experience with DRD2/3 antagonist ONC201 in H3 K27M–mutant pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma: a case report” in the Journal of Neurosurgery (authored by Matthew D. Hall, M.D., MBA). The article summarizes the medical history of a 10-year-old girl with a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) brain tumor. Following radiation therapy and treatment with ONC201 on a compassionate use basis, she developed near complete resolution of her presenting neurological symptoms for almost one year, enabling her return to school and participation in many normal activities.
DIPG is a serious and rare disease with a dismal prognosis and no viable treatment options. It predominantly affects children and young adults, and it is the most common form of brainstem glioma in this age group. DIPG.org, a resource network for the disease, summarizes the disease characteristics as follows: “Currently, outcomes for most patients are poor, with a median survival of less than 1 year from diagnosis. Radiation therapy can shrink tumors, temporarily improving some symptoms and delaying the progression of the disease, but in almost all cases, the tumor continues to grow. So far, clinical trials have not shown that currently available chemotherapy drugs, radiosensitizing drugs (drugs that make tumor cells more likely to be killed by radiation therapy), or biologics (medical products created by biological processes, such as vaccines or gene therapy) benefit patients. Because of their location in the brainstem, DIPGs cannot be removed surgically. New approaches to treating DIPG are urgently needed.”
ONC201 is an investigational drug developed by Oncoceutics that is being studied in several clinical trials for use against DIPG and other brain tumors. The underlying mechanism of the drug involves the interception of a specific receptor for dopamine, called DRD2. DRD2 is a neurotransmitter that is misused by malignant glioma cells to boost their growth. Tumors that harbor a certain mutation of a highly conserved histone protein, i.e. H3 K27M, are particularly sensitive to ONC201 in spite of the otherwise aggressive growth that this mutation confers. DIPG is one of the tumor types that exhibit a high prevalence of this mutation.
The patient described in the article has shown prolonged clinical benefits and is approaching almost two years from diagnosis, although ONC201 was administered only when symptoms progressed after radiation was completed. This supports further investigation of ONC201 in H3 K27M-mutant gliomas, including DIPG. As a result, Oncoceutics has significantly expanded its pediatric clinical program for ONC201. The company’s ongoing pediatric trial for ONC201 in H3 K27M-mutant high-grade gliomas including DIPG (NCT03416530) was extended with additional treatment arms, a pediatric oral solution formulation was introduced, and ONC201 treatment was extended to newly diagnosed DIPG patients with concomitant radiation.
The company further implemented an intermediate size Expanded Access Protocol (EAP) to provide access to ONC201 for patients that might benefit from the drug but are not eligible for participation in the ongoing clinical trials. The EAP was made possible by the support of the Food and Drug Administration and their high priority effort to facilitate access to promising medicines for patients with serious or immediately life-threatening diseases or conditions when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available (see recent FDA statement). The program is also supported by The Musella Foundation, The Cure Starts Now Foundation, The Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation, Cancer Commons and xCures.
“We are delighted to see a novel concept to treat this horrible disease emerge and show traction in clinical settings,” said Keith Desserich, Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of The Cure Starts Now. “We have followed the development of ONC201 for some time and are excited about the emerging data in both, children as well as young adults that are expected to become public later in this year.
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About Oncoceutics
Oncoceutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company with a novel class of compounds, called “imipridones,” that selectively target G protein-coupled receptors for oncology. The first lead compound to emerge from this program is ONC201, an orally active small molecule DRD2 antagonist. The company is supported by grants from NCI, FDA, Musella Foundation, XCures, Cancer Commons, and a series of private and public partnerships.
Visit Oncoceutics.com or contact Press@oncoceutics.com for more information.
About The Musella Foundation
The Musella Foundation For Brain Tumor Research & Information, Inc is a 501(C)3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to helping brain tumor patients through emotional and financial support, education, advocacy and raising money for brain tumor research. Visit virtualtrials.com for more information.
About The Cure Starts Now Foundation
The Cure Starts Now Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with international chapters in nearly 40 locations around the world. It is has funded universal cancer cure strategies starting with cancers such as DIPG and organizes the biennial International DIPG Symposium showcasing innovative research methods. You can learn more at www.thecurestartsnow.org.
About Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation
Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation is committed to finding a cure for brainstem tumors known as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG). Nearly every day one child in the United States is diagnosed with DIPG and another child dies from it. The Foundation seeks to make a difference and defeat DIPG both by raising awareness of DIPG and by providing funding for research into effective treatments for DIPG. Visit defeatdipg.org for more information.
About Cancer Commons
Cancer Commons is a nonprofit collaborative of patients, physicians, and scientists, dedicated to improving patient outcomes by tightly coupling clinical research and care. We arm patients and their physicians with the knowledge they need to achieve the best possible outcomes, help them access the relevant treatments and trials, and track their results to continuously learn. Vistit cancercommons.org for more information.
About xCures
xCures is developing an AI-based methodology and platform to run ‘Virtual Trials’, which continuously learn from the clinical experiences of all patients, on all treatments, all the time. Each patient’s treatment regimen is adaptively planned by a ‘Virtual Tumor Board’ to optimize their individual outcome, and these plans are coordinated across the whole patient population to maximize collective learning. Visit xcures.com for more information
