Our current research focus is on creating innovative treatments for "small cell lung cancer."
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) progresses very rapidly and often metastasizes systemically early on, making it one of the intractable cancers where long-term effects are difficult to achieve with standard treatments.
Our research team discovered "Metabolic Enzyme X (tentative name)," which is highly expressed in small cell lung cancer.
This enzyme is hardly expressed in normal tissues and has been found to be specifically activated in small cell lung cancer cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that inhibiting the function of this enzyme X significantly suppresses cancer cell proliferation.
Based on this basic research, our company conducted a search for small molecule compounds targeting X.
As a result, we succeeded in obtaining compound candidates with high selectivity and inhibitory activity.
This compound has shown very potent cancer suppressive effects in cell experiments and initial models.
We plan to further optimize the inhibitor, proceed to preclinical trials after evaluating safety and pharmacokinetics.
We aim to realize a groundbreaking molecular targeted therapy drug for small cell lung cancer as a new treatment option in combination with standard therapy or overcoming drug resistance.
A. This inhibitor is designed to be effective against small cell lung cancer where metabolic enzyme X is highly expressed.
In the future, it is planned to be administered more selectively to patients whose X enzyme expression is confirmed by biomarker testing.
A. Yes, synergistic effects are expected when this inhibitor is used in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
We are also verifying the combination effects with other treatments in preclinical studies.
A. Currently, development is proceeding based on oral administration, but the final administration method will be determined based on the results of preclinical and clinical trials.