Compounds are being designed by covalently linking two active drug components, one of which targets at least one distinct clinically validated cancer target.

Curis selected the first development candidate from its Targeted Cancer Drug Development Platform. It plans to use this platform to discover and develop a portfolio of small molecule multitarget inhibitors against a wide range of cancer types.


For each drug program, compounds are being designed by covalently linking two active drug components, or pharmacophores. Each pharmacophore acts on at least one distinct clinically validated cancer target. Target A will remain constant throughout all programs currently under development, and Target B will a different clinically validated or promising cancer target that varies between programs. Specific Target A-Target B pharmacophore combinations define each of the several drug programs that are currently under development.


CUDC-101 is a multitarget small molecule where the first active drug component is designed to inhibit Target A and the second active drug component is designed to inhibit Target B, which is the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Curis has determined not to disclose Target A for proprietary reasons. Curis plans to initiate preclinical drug development activities shortly and, assuming the successful completion of such preclinical studies, expects to file an IND application with the FDA in late 2007 or early 2008.


“Our selection of CUDC-101 as a development candidate is an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to develop a pipeline of drug development programs,” notes Daniel Passeri, president and CEO. “We are working to add clinical development and regulatory capacities as we seek to progress CUDC-101 and other potential future candidates from our Targeted Cancer Drug Development Platform to IND application filing and into human clinical testing.


“As we seek to progress the development of CUDC-101 towards an IND filing, we are also seeking a corporate collaborator for this drug candidate that will have the potential to provide Curis with significant involvement in at least the early stages of clinical testing. Our current plan is to retain the rights to a majority of our other multitarget programs for further proprietary development.”

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