Outrun Therapeutics, a biotech developing protein stabilising therapeutics identified by its proprietary XL discovery platform, has selected its lead programme for the treatment of HPV positive head and neck cancer.
Outrun has selected an E6AP inhibitor strategy as the lead programme from its first-in-class therapeutic pipeline developed through the application of its proprietary XL discovery platform. This platform has been used to profile more than 45 diverse E3 ligases across a wide range of indications in oncology, neurology, cardiovascular and auto-immune diseases. The company expects to announce a development candidate later this year.
E6AP is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that regulates the expression of a key tumour suppressor protein in HPV positive cancers, such as head and neck cancer. Inhibiting this enzyme represents a first-in-class strategy to directly stabilise tumour suppressor protein levels, paving the way to a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.
HPV positive cancers account for around 4.5% of cancers worldwide, with the global market size expected to exceed $14bn by 2031.
Tony Johnson, board chair and interim CEO of Outrun Therapeutics, said: “Outrun’s mission is to develop protein stabilising therapeutics to treat disease, and the selection of our lead programme, for the treatment of HPV positive head and neck cancer, is an important milestone in our journey. This is a massively underserved patient population, and we are confident that our novel approach to protein stabilisation offers a breakthrough route to bringing meaningful treatments to those in need.”