Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the presentation of preclinical data showing SP-3164's activity in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) animal models. In a model of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, SP-3164 exhibited synergistic activity with the approved anti-CD20 drug rituximab, resulting in the complete elimination of tumors in 50% of treated mice. The combination also performed significantly better than the approved regimen, lenalidomide and rituximab.

These data were presented by Aundrietta Duncan, Ph.D., Salarius' director of non-clinical development, at the inaugural Molecular Glue Drug Development Summit. Dr. Duncan also presented data showing that SP-3164 alone demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition compared with the control group and out-performed standard-of-care treatment in a follicular lymphoma mouse model. In the same follicular lymphoma model, the combination of SP-3164 with the standard-of-care agent showed a synergistic effect resulting in greater tumor growth inhibition than either SP-3164 or the standard-of-care agent alone.

SP-3164 is an oral, next-generation molecular glue that uses Salarius' deuterium-enabled chiral switching platform to stabilize the preferred (S)-enantiomer of avadomide, an extensively studied clinical compound that has demonstrated encouraging single-agent and combination-therapy clinical efficacy in NHL and other hematologic malignancies. The addition of deuterium at the chiral center of the molecule prevents conversion to the unwanted (R)-enantiomer, allowing for isolation and development of the preferred (S)-enantiomer into a potential new cancer treatment. As such, SP-3164 is a new chemical entity and has been issued a U.S. composition-of-matter patent.

Data presented in December 2022 at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting showed compelling SP-3164 activity in lymphoma models and supports SP-3164's potential for the clinical trial in NHL planned to initiate in 2023.