Express $25 million to help develop a new generation of synthetic lethal therapy, Pfizer reaches R&D cooperation

▎WuXi AppTec Content Team Editor Today, Zentalis Pharmaceuticals announced that it has received a $25 million equity investment from Pfizer
.

Zentalis plans to use the funding to advance ongoing and planned clinical trials, including the development of its Wee1 inhibitor ZN-c3 and BCL-2 inhibitor ZN-d5
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Pfizer and Zentalis have entered into an agreement to collaborate to advance the clinical development of selective Wee1 inhibitors, an innovative therapy that uses the principle of synthetic lethality to kill cancer cells
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Wee1 is an important target for a new generation of DNA damage response (DRR) targeted therapies, a protein kinase that plays a key role in regulating cell cycle progression
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It prevents cells carrying DNA damage from entering mitosis
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By inhibiting Wee1, Wee1 inhibitors can allow cells with DNA damage to enter mitosis without repairing the damage, resulting in DNA damage accumulation and cell death
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Zentalis announced the results of a Phase 1b clinical trial of its Wee1 inhibitor ZN-c3 in combination with chemotherapy in patients with platinum-based chemotherapy-resistant or refractory ovarian cancer at this year's AACR conference
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Trial results showed that among 43 patients who could be evaluated for efficacy, the combination therapy achieved an objective response rate of 30.
2% and a disease control rate of 86.
0%
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▲ Clinical trial results of ZN-c3 (Image source: Zentalis' official website) Pfizer expects to use its global development capabilities and expertise to strengthen Zentalis' clinical development programs
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Dr.
Adam Schayowitz, vice president and medical team leader of the company's Breast, Colorectal and Melanoma Division, will join Zentalis' Scientific Advisory Board
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He will work closely with Zentalis' senior management team to provide input on the company's clinical strategy
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Dr.
Anthony Sun, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Zentalis, said, "Pfizer has deep expertise in developing treatments for genitourinary cancers, and Zentalis is pleased to partner with Pfizer to develop potential treatment options for cancer patients
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Reference: [1] ZENTALIS PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES $25 MILLION EQUITY INVESTMENT FROM PFIZER.
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