Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and Curadev Pharma, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics, are expanding their collaboration through the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program to advance the development of CRD3874-SI, Curadev’s first-in-class allosteric stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist for solid tumors.
The expanded collaboration builds on the ongoing phase 1a/1b dose escalation and expansion clinical trial (NCT06011626) currently underway at MSK for patients with sarcoma and Merkel cell carcinoma and will explore the potential of CRD3874-SI for treating additional solid tumor types. MSK leaders William Tap, MD, Chief of the Sarcoma Medical Oncology Service, and Ciara Kelly, MBBCh BAO, Clinical Director of the Sarcoma Oncology Service, are overseeing the collaboration, which marks a significant milestone in translating STING pathway research into broader clinical application.
“MSK and its Division of Solid Tumors are excited to partner with Curadev to co-develop CRD3874-SI, which has demonstrated an encouraging safety and efficacy profile in a first-in-human study at MSK and is moving forward into multiple solid-tumor expansion cohorts,” said Dr. Tap. “We look forward to advancing this novel immunotherapy as a potential new treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors, guided by our disease-specific experts and the support and structure of the MSK Accelerator program.”
The MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program is a strategic initiative between MSK and biotechnology companies that aims to expedite novel cancer therapeutics through all stages of drug development, including preclinical research, product co-development, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. It provides industry partners with opportunities to collaborate with MSK’s leading clinical and scientific experts, access to MSK facilities and infrastructure, and concierge support for streamlining and accelerating projects.
“Partnering with the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator provides companies with unparalleled access to world-class expertise, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art resources,” notes Eileen Flowers, PhD, Director of Technology Developments and Licensing Opportunities, at MSK. “Our collaborations foster innovative therapeutic development to de-risk the journey from discovery to clinical application, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes and conquer cancer.”
Curadev designed CRD3874-SI to activate type 1 interferon and pro-inflammatory responses while blocking the proton channel activity associated with runaway inflammation seen with other STING agonists under clinical investigation.
“We are encouraged by the early readouts with CRD3874-SI systemic monotherapy from our ongoing clinical trial in patients with treatment-refractory cancers at MSK and are honored by the opportunity to deepen our collaboration through the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator program,” said Dr. Arjun Surya, Co-founder and CEO of Curadev. “The research and development collaboration between oncologists at MSK and the inventors of CRD3874-SI at Curadev could become a role model for advancing bench to bedside medicines.”
For more information about the MSK Therapeutics Accelerator or to apply, reach out to Eileen Flowers at flowerse@mskcc.org or Jonathan Dow, PhD, Senior Program Manager, at dowj@mskcc.org.