Onconic Therapeutics' Anticancer Drug Candidate Nesuparib Obtains Patent in Australia

Patent for 'PARP Inhibitor-Resistant Cancer Therapy'

Onconic Therapeutics announced on the 28th that its dual-targeted anticancer drug candidate, Nesuparib, has obtained a use patent in Australia.

Onconic Therapeutics

Nesuparib is a next-generation synthetic lethality anticancer drug candidate that dual-targets PARP, which is involved in DNA damage repair in cancer cells, and tankyrase (TNKS), which affects cancer growth and progression. It has been recognized for its patentability after being confirmed to have therapeutic effects even when administered alone to solid tumors resistant to existing PARP inhibitors. This is significant because it can offer a new treatment opportunity for patients who failed anticancer therapy due to resistance to previously approved PARP inhibitors.

Based on the specificity of this mechanism, with this new patent, Nesuparib has obtained patent rights to treat solid tumors, regardless of cancer type, that are resistant to existing PARP inhibitors, such as those with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), through the administration of Nesuparib. It is known that the resistance rate to existing PARP inhibitors exceeds 50% within two years.

Currently, Nesuparib is undergoing Phase 1b/2 and Phase 2 clinical trials for pancreatic cancer and endometrial cancer, respectively. Notably, pancreatic cancer was designated as an orphan drug (ODD) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2021. In March of this year, the FDA also granted orphan drug designation for gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Additionally, Nesuparib is being developed in combination with MSD's Keytruda and Celltrion's Begzelma to expand indications for various cancers, including pancreatic and ovarian cancers.

An Onconic Therapeutics representative stated, "With the acquisition of this patent, we have secured the value and exclusive rights to the novelty and advancement of Nesuparib, and we plan to utilize it for the development of new therapeutics." The representative added, "Through further clinical development, we will expand the therapeutic indications of Nesuparib and provide new treatment options to address unmet medical needs in the global anticancer drug market."

Meanwhile, the family patent related to this patent has been filed in 21 countries and has been registered not only in Australia but also in Eurasia and the Republic of South Africa. The patent is valid until May 18, 2042.