Business
Gain Therapeutics Presents Data at 36ᵗʰ EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Demonstrating Identification of Allosteric Inhibitors Targeting DDR2
GT-03842, Identified by the Company’s Magellan Drug Discovery Platform, Effectively Hinders Phosphorylation and Activation of DDR2 GT-03842 May Offer
About this update from Gain Therapeutics, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"GT-03842, Identified by the Company’s Magellan Drug Discovery Platform, Effectively Hinders Phosphorylation and Activation of DDR2 GT-03842 May Offer Potential Favourable Therapeutic Attributes for Oncology Compared to Traditional Kinase Inhibitors BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GANX) (“Gain”, or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company leading the discovery and development of the next generation of allosteric small molecule therapies, today announced the presentation of a poster at the 36th EORTC-NCI-AACR (ENA) Symposium on molecular targets and cancer therapeutics that details the use of the Company’s Magellan drug discovery platform to identify allosteric inhibitors targeting discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2). ENA 2024 is being held October 23-25 in Barcelona, Spain. “We believe the identification of allosteric small molecule inhibitors targeting DDR2 validates the Company’s Magellan platform. Our belief is strengthened that this innovative approach can one day result in much-needed novel therapeutics for people with DDR2-driven malignancies,” commented Joanne Taylor, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Research at Gain. The poster, “Identification of allosteric inhibitors targeting Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2),” which was presented on-site on October 23 by Sara Cano-Crespo, Ph.D., Senior Scientist of Biology at Gain, detailed how the 3D structure of DDR2 guided a high-throughput virtual screening and subsequent experimental validation that resulted in GT-03842 and additional analogue compounds. Upon binding to collagen, DDR2 undergoes autophosphorylation, triggering its activation and initiating downstream signaling cascades. After conducting a phosphorylation assay based on AlphaLISA with HEK293 cells overexpressing DDR2, GT-03842 and its analogues were found to inhibit DDR2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Aberrant DDR2 phosphorylation is associated with various cancer types and is involved in critical processes in tumor progression, including proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and immunotherapy resistance. In a metastatic breast cancer model, GT-03842 also reduced DDR2 phosphorylation. Additionally, GT-03842 inhibits DDR2 activity without targeting the kinase domain, showing the potential to overc...