First-in-Human Trial will test a New Cancer Therapy from Switzerland

Cellestia Biotech cancer notch

Cellestia Biotech will start human trials with CB-103, an anticancer drug targeting the Notch signaling pathway, known for its ubiquity in cancer.

Cellestia Biotech, based in Basel, has announced it received full approval to start clinical trials in Spain with CB-103, a new class of drug that targets an ubiquitous cancer mechanism. The drug is a pan-Notch inhibitor that selectively blocks the expression of genes that activate the Notch signaling pathway, which is commonly found in T cell leukemia, breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer, among others.

The Phase I/IIa trial will recruit patients with advanced or metastatic tumors, which will be limited to Notch-dependent forms of cancer only for the Phase IIa part. Phase I will establish dosage, while Phase IIa will aim to confirm safety and preliminary efficacy.

As Dirk Weber, CMO of Cellestia, stated earlier today, “Patients with advanced solid tumors and hematological malignancies which are functionally driven by activated Notch signaling generally have a poor survival prognosis. There are no approved Notch targeting agents on the market for this well-defined patient group.” Although still in a very early phase, the treatment could provide hope for patients that have limited options, and reaching the clinic is an important milestone towards making it happen.

To learn more about the company and how it’s competing with big players like AbbVie and BMS in the Notch space, here’s our recent interview with the CEO, Michael Bauer.


Image via Wichy / Shutterstock

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