Vidac Pharma Holdings Plc announced it has received a Notice of Allowance from the Japanese Patent Office for the position and methods of use for its VDA-1275 drug candidate, which has shown multiple promising effects in preclinical studies. In recent preclinical studies, this new molecule has shown effects, both directly against a variety of tumors in animal trials, and through powerful synergistic effects in combination with two widely used types of chemotherapy in human liver organoids. VDA-1275 statistically significantly increased survival in a murine colorectal cancer model as a stand-alone treatment, with a survival benefit similar to Opdivo in a head-to-head comparison.

In a 3-D organoid model of human liver cancer, it reduced the concentrations of porafenib and cisplatin needed to achieve IC50 cancer cell viability by 50% and 95%, respectively. Finally, VDA-1275 triggered an immune response through several mechanisms. The company will publish these results in a peer-reviewed publication. Both VDA-1275 and the more advanced VDA-1102, which is in separate Phase 2 testing of advanced actinic keratosis and of cutaneous T cell lymphoma, disrupt the interaction between hexokinase 2 (HK2) and the voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) in mitochondria.

HK2 blocks VDACs, which prevents apoptosis, supports cancer cell proliferation, and suppresses immune responses. Clinical data for Vidac's first-generation metabolic checkpoint modulator candidates have shown powerful effects in halting cancer cell proliferation and restoring immune-sensitivity and apoptosis.