Offering what it says is “new hope for metastatic cancer patients,” Lamassu Biotech proudly announces a breakthrough in its efforts to combat locally advanced metastatic p53 wild-type tumors. Described as “pioneering therapy,” SA53-OS has received investigational new drug application (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with Phase 1/2a clinical trials, according to a recent announcement.
Collaborating with the prestigious Cleveland Clinic, Lamassu’s trial will be led by Dr. Peter Anderson. It is set to investigate the novel therapy SA53-OS, which targets the MDM2 protein, a crucial regulator of the tumor suppressor p53 gene. Lamassu’s approach aims to selectively activate p53, inducing tumor cell death and inhibiting growth, potentially offering a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
Dr. Gabi Hanna, CEO of Lamassu, expressed gratitude for the approval, highlighting the collective effort of the Lamassu team and its partners. “This approval is the result of the vision and tenacity of our entire Lamassu team and our partners,” Dr. Hanna stated. “It is a critical step to move beyond conventional chemotherapy to targeted therapy, offering hope and healing to millions who suffer from stubborn cancers resistant to conventional treatments and aiming to reduce the toxicity of cancer treatments.”
The company says its aim is to develop a new cancer treatment for patients facing limited therapeutic options. Given that functional p53 is present in roughly half of all cancers, the potential impact of this treatment could be transformative in the ongoing battle against cancer.
The FDA’s approval of the IND application follows Lamassu’s reception of one of the National Institutes of Health’s largest available grant awards, further bolstering the company’s efforts to launch the clinical trial study for its innovative cancer treatment approach.
With SA53-OS patented in 69 countries, successful trials could have a significant impact on the global fight against cancer. In the company’s announcement, Dr. Hanna emphasized Lamassu’s commitment to accelerating drug development and delivering innovative therapies that can transition swiftly from the laboratory to the bedside, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients.
The initiation of this trial marks another milestone in Lamassu’s mission to advance cancer treatment, underscoring the company’s dedication to innovation and its relentless pursuit of solutions to some of the most challenging medical conditions of our time.
Connect With Others for Support and information
Cancer Connect was the first social network created for people with cancer. Founded by oncologists to support cancer patients and their caregivers, over 40 million individuals have accessed Cancer Connect programs since 1997. Cancer Connect is used by leading cancer centers like Dana Farber and Roswell Park to support their patients. Join the conversation, ask questions, share your experience, and learn how the best cancer centers are treating cancer from others. Share your experience, ask a question, or start a conversation by posting on Cancer Connect.
Learn more about Lamassu here.
