J INTS BIO, a leader in oncology drug development, has announced interim preclinical results for its second-generation synthetic HSP90 inhibitor, JIN-001, during the EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium held in Barcelona, Spain, from October 23-25, 2024. The findings indicate JIN-001’s potential as a new therapeutic option for cancer patients facing drug resistance, marking a significant step forward in cancer treatment.
Ovarian cancer, known for being one of the most aggressive and deadly gynecological cancers, is diagnosed in approximately 70% of patients at an advanced stage. While many respond initially to standard chemotherapy, drug resistance often develops, resulting in disease progression and relapse. JIN-001 aims to tackle this critical challenge by targeting heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), a molecular chaperone that enables cancer cells to survive therapeutic stress.
By inhibiting HSP90, JIN-001 hinders cancer cells’ ability to adapt and acquire resistance to chemotherapy, thereby preserving the effectiveness of existing treatment options. The preclinical studies presented at the symposium specifically assessed the drug’s efficacy in combination with established chemotherapeutic agents, providing new hope for patients with drug-resistant cancer.
Researchers evaluated JIN-001’s efficacy in ovarian cancer cell lines, including those resistant to common chemotherapies such as paclitaxel and cisplatin. The study involved treating both normal and resistant ovarian cancer cell lines with varying concentrations of JIN-001, either alone or alongside paclitaxel (PTX) or cisplatin (Cis).
Study Highlights:
- Cell Lines Tested: Researchers utilised ovarian cancer cell lines (OV90, TOV21G, OVCAR3) and their resistant counterparts (OV90/PTX200, TOV21G/PTX100, OVCAR3-CisR) to assess drug efficacy.
- Methods: The study measured cell viability, comparing the outcomes of monotherapy with JIN-001 and combination therapy with standard chemotherapy agents.
The most significant findings arose when JIN-001 was combined with traditional chemotherapy agents. For instance, in the resistant OV90/PTX200 cell line, the combination of JIN-001 and paclitaxel reduced the IC50 value of paclitaxel from 0.204 μM to 0.043 μM, indicating a substantial improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Similarly, in the cisplatin-resistant OVCAR3-CisR cell line, combining JIN-001 with cisplatin lowered its IC50 from 9.643 μM to 0.142 μM.
These interim results suggest that JIN-001 could serve as a breakthrough companion therapy for patients with ovarian cancer. By inhibiting HSP90, the drug enhances the effectiveness of existing chemotherapies and limits cancer’s adaptability, thus reducing the likelihood of treatment resistance.
“The synergy observed between JIN-001 and standard chemotherapy agents is extremely promising. It represents a new treatment paradigm for cancer patients,” said the J INTS BIO research team. “We are dedicated to advancing the clinical development of JIN-001 to validate its efficacy and safety, as we believe it could transform the landscape of cancer treatment.”
Looking ahead, J INTS BIO plans to expedite the clinical development of JIN-001, not only for ovarian cancer but also for other malignancies, including glioblastoma. Collaborative research with MD Anderson Cancer Center on JIN-001’s potential in glioblastoma has yielded positive preclinical results, with a Phase 1 trial expected to commence in 2025.