Oncology Products in Development
By leveraging our strong scientific capabilities, we are developing new medications to treat patients with life-threatening diseases. The three clinical-stage programs being developed by Sunesis are SNS-595, SNS-032, and SNS-314.
SNS-595 Program
SNS-595 is a novel chemical structure with a unique mechanism of action that we believe represents a new class of anti-tumor drugs. SNS-595 targets the tumor cell exclusively during DNA replication with what we believe to be a novel approach, to induce cell death. In preclinical studies, SNS-595 demonstrated broad anti-tumor activity. Sunesis obtained worldwide rights to SNS-595 from Dainippon Pharmaceuticals in 2003.
We have been conducting Phase 1 clinical studies that have shown that the drug was well-tolerated and early signs of clinical activity were noted. We are conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial with SNS-595 as a single agent, in patients with ovarian cancer. Also we are evaluating SNS-595 for the treatment of acute leukemia as a single agent and in combination with cytarabine.
SNS-032 Program
SNS-032 is a uniquely targeted inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases CDK2, CDK7, and CDK9, which are critical in the communication and relay of signals to promote cellular growth and function. In preclinical studies, Sunesis has shown that SNS-032 has a dual mechanism by which it can kill tumor cells. SNS-032 not only disrupts normal cell cycle progression and DNA repair, but also down-regulates the transcription of key survival proteins that are critical to the survival of B-lymphocytic tumors, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Sunesis obtained worldwide rights to develop and commercialize SNS-032 for diagnostic and therapeutic applications from Bristol-Myers Squibb through a license agreement in April 2005.
We are pursuing the development of SNS-032 in a Phase 1 study in patients in the United States with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma.
SNS-314 Program
SNS-314 is a targeted inhibitor of the Aurora kinases A, B, and C, and is a product of Sunesis' internal drug discovery capabilities. Aurora kinases are key enzymes involved in cellular division (mitosis) and play an essential role in the abnormal growth and proliferation of tumor cells.
We have succeeded in our goal to develop novel Aurora kinase inhibitors that exhibit broad activity in tumors and do not cause significant peripheral nerve cell death, known as peripheral neuropathy, a problem that plagues most other classes of inhibitors of mitosis.
We started enrolling patients in a Phase 1 dose-escalation safety study in mid-2007 in patients with advanced solid malignancies. We have worldwide rights to commercialize any drugs resulting from our Aurora kinase inhibitors program.
