Researchers will apply the latest TPD drug discovery technology to target fusion proteins that cause pediatric cancer
Cancer Grand Challenges is an initiative funded by Cancer Research UK
SAN FRANCISCO, March 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRIX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted protein modulation drugs designed to treat patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases, announced that it is part of a diverse research team of international experts selected as awardees in this year’s Cancer Grand Challenges competition. The team includes scientists, physicians and patient advocacy groups from 10 institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Austria and will be led by Yael Mossé, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Patricia Brophy Endowed Chair in Neuroblastoma Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Martin Eilers, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Würzburg, Germany.
The project entitled “Knocking Out Oncogenic Drivers and Curing Childhood Cancers” (KOODAC) has the goal of developing orally bioavailable targeted protein degraders that have the potential to dramatically improve cure rates for children affected by solid tumors. In this first-of-its-kind industry/academic discovery partnership through Cancer Grand Challenges, Nurix will be making in-kind contributions to address each of the five onco-fusion targets, leveraging its DELigase technology to identify chemical starting points for drug design and providing key expertise in TPD optimization and development.
"Team KOODAC brings together an interdisciplinary, international team of scientific experts, all sharing the vision of developing safe and effective drugs against previously undruggable childhood cancers," said Dr. Mossé. “We are excited to be working with Nurix, an industry leader in targeted protein degradation.”
“We are proud to be invited to contribute our expertise in protein degradation to this impressive team consisting of some of the world's leading experts in pediatric cancers, oncoprotein biology, and protein degradation,” said Gwenn M. Hansen, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Nurix. “Being chosen to be a part of this consortium and receiving this Cancer Grand Challenges recognition is a testament to the power, potential and leadership of Nurix’s targeted protein degradation technology to effectively target oncogenic fusion proteins that, until now, have been considered undruggable.”
Team KOODAC will focus on the development of TPDs and Molecular Glue Degraders (MGDs) to target five key and previously undruggable fusion proteins that have been shown to be drivers of high-risk solid tumors in pediatric patients, including, MYCN, EWSR1-FLI, DNAJB1-PRKACA, ALK, and PAX3/7-FOXO1, and conduct the preclinical studies needed for biomarker-driven clinical trials.
The Cancer Grand Challenges is an initiative driven and funded by Cancer Research UK, whose goal is to facilitate identification of the greatest challenges in cancer today and to fund global teams to work in innovative ways to find solutions. This year, five teams were selected to receive funding of up to £20 million (approximately $25 million) over a period of five years. The funds, which will support only the academic groups involved in the project, will be managed by Team KOODAC.
About Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.
Nurix Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative small molecules and antibody therapies based on the modulation of cellular protein levels as a novel treatment approach for cancer, inflammatory conditions, and other challenging diseases. Leveraging extensive expertise in E3 ligases together with proprietary DNA-encoded libraries, Nurix has built DELigase, an integrated discovery platform, to identify and advance novel drug candidates targeting E3 ligases, a broad class of enzymes that can modulate proteins within the cell. Nurix’s drug discovery approach is to either harness or inhibit the natural function of E3 ligases within the ubiquitin-proteasome system to selectively decrease or increase cellular protein levels. Nurix’s wholly owned, clinical stage pipeline includes targeted protein degraders of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, a B-cell signaling protein, and inhibitors of Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene B, an E3 ligase that regulates activation of multiple immune cell types including T cell and NK cells. Nurix is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For additional information visit http://www.nurixtx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When or if used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to Nurix, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements that reflect Nurix’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding: Nurix’s plans with respect to the KOODAC project the potential of Nurix’s targeted protein degradation technology to target oncogenic fusion proteins; the extent to which targeted protein degraders may address a range of diseases; and the potential advantages of Nurix’s scientific approach and DELigase™ platform. Forward-looking statements reflect Nurix’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Although Nurix believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Nurix can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, which could cause Nurix’s actual activities and results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) the risks inherent in the drug development process, including the unexpected emergence of adverse events or other undesirable side effects during clinical development; (ii) uncertainties related to the timing and results of clinical trials; (iv) whether Nurix will be able to fund its research and development activities and achieve its research and development goals; (v) the impact of economic and market conditions and global and regional events on Nurix’s business, clinical trials, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; (vi) whether Nurix will be able to protect intellectual property and (vii) other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Nurix’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, and other SEC filings. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by Nurix on its website or otherwise. Nurix disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Contacts:
Investors
Jason Kantor, Ph.D.
Nurix Therapeutics
ir@nurixtx.com
Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D.
Wheelhouse Life Science Advisors
lwolffe@wheelhouselsa.com
Media
Aljanae Reynolds
Wheelhouse Life Science Advisors
areynolds@wheelhouselsa.com
