Sirnaomics Ltd. announced that the Group has completed STP707 Phase I clinical study with strong safety profile and stable disease activity for treatment of pancreatic cancer patients. This is a dose escalation study conducted in 11 oncology clinics in the U.S. The study involved six cohorts, consisting of 50 patients with various cancers, of which 11 had pancreatic cancer. In an earlier news release from the Company in August 2023, the Group noted completion of all dosing regimens for its Phase I study of STP707 for the treatment of multiple solid tumors.

This basket study has enrolled patients suffering from various types of late-stage cancers and failing after multiple rounds of treatments. The study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of the Group's siRNA (small interfering RNA) drug candidate, STP707, through intravenous infusion (IV) with six cohorts of escalating doses. Patients including pancreatic, colorectal, liver, melanoma and other cancers, with advanced/metastatic or surgically unresectable solid tumors, refractory to standard therapy, were recruited.

Six dose levels (3mg/kg, 6mg/kg, 12mg/kg, 24mg/kg, 36mg/kg and 48mg/kg) were explored in ascending doses. Patients received IV infusion on Day 1, 8, 15 and 22 of a 28-days cycle. 11 pancreatic patients (five males and six females, average age 64 years) were enrolled in the study.

Patients were heavily pre-treated and received, on average, three lines of therapy prior to enrollment in the study (including Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel and Folfirinox). The preliminary results indicated that the mean treatment cycles completed was three cycles (average 12 doses). The average days for stable disease for all 11 patients was 92 days, while 31 days for the 12mg/kg group, 65 days for 24mg/kg group and 112 days for 48mg/kg group, including one patient ongoing at 281 days.

No treatment related adverse events (TRAE) were reported for the 11 patients, except for one patient with a Grade 2 infusion reaction. Non-treatment related adverse events were secondary to their advanced metastatic disease including intestinal obstruction, abdominal distention, gastrointestinal obstruction, embolism, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, tumor pain, hypoxia and dyspnea. The maximum tolerated dose of STP707 for all 50 late-stage cancer patients was not reached even at 48mg/kg dosage level.

STP707 was very well-tolerated in a heavily pre- treated cancer patient population. The 11 pancreatic subset of patients showed low toxicity and relatively long stable disease at various dosages (106, 281 and 302 days), and warrants further study with STP707 alone or in combination with immune check point inhibitors, given the preclinical documented ability of STP707 to recruit T-cells to the tumor micro- environment (TME). This is the first time a polypeptide nanoparticle-based siRNA cancer therapeutic has demonstrated early positive safety and efficacy results for the treatment of late-stage pancreatic cancer patients.

STP707 is composed of two siRNA oligonucleotides, targeting TGF-1 and COX-2 mRNA respectively, formulated in nanoparticles with a Histidine-Lysine Co-Polymer (HKP+H) peptide as the carrier. The specific carrier peptide is distinct from the carrier used in Sirnaomics' STP705 product. Each individual siRNA was demonstrated to inhibit the expression of their target mRNAs and combining the two siRNA's produces a synergistic effect that diminishes pro-inflammatory factors.

Over-expression of TGF-1 and COX-2 have been well-characterized in playing key regulatory roles in tumorigenesis. In preclinical studies with STP707, IV administration resulted in knock-down of TGF-1 and COX-2 gene expressions in various organs including liver, lung and xenograft tumor. In addition, in preclinical models STP707 had shown strong antitumor activity in various solid tumor types.

Using a mouse liver orthotopic tumor model, a combination regimen of STP707 with an immune checkpoint antibody has demonstrated a potent antitumor activity.