eFFECTOR Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the development of
selective translation regulation inhibitors (“STRIs”) for the
treatment of cancer, announced today the publication of data
highlighting the role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor
4E (“eIF4E”), in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports. eIF4E is a
component of the eIF4F complex, which, in conjunction with its
activating kinase (“MNK”), triggers an increase in protein
synthesis that is critical for cancer growth and immune evasion.
The published research, which provides insight into the potential
of eIF4E inhibition for the treatment of cancer, was conducted at
the University of California, San Francisco in collaboration with
eFFECTOR. The eIF4E target is the subject of eFFECTOR’s
collaboration with Pfizer.
“This publication further validates the novel
science on which eFFECTOR’s platform is built,” said Steve Worland,
Ph.D., president and CEO of eFFECTOR. “These findings underscore
eIF4E’s role as a key hub for regulating cancer drivers such as
mitochondrial stress, and the data showed that jointly inhibiting
Bcl-xL while blocking eIF4E activation using our MNK 1/2 inhibitor
tomivosertib is a promising approach for treating cancer.”
“The results in this paper highlight the
numerous genetic interactions with eIF4E that may help inform
cancer vulnerabilities,” said Davide Ruggero, Ph.D., senior author
on the paper; professor at the UCSF Helen Diller Cancer Center; an
American Cancer Society Research Professor; and co-founder of
eFFECTOR. “Our team is pleased to add to the growing body of
scientific research on the interactions between cellular processes
that drive cancer and key components of the translation machinery
such as eIF4E. We are proud that our contributions have the
potential to broaden the treatment landscape for those impacted by
cancer.”
The Role of eIF4E in CancereIF4E is an oncogene
and historically intractable target that is activated in a variety
of human cancers and is linked to poor prognosis and resistance to
certain therapies. eIF4E is an effector protein integrating signals
from multiple important oncogenes and tumor suppressor proteins in
the PI3K and RAS oncogenic pathways (including PI3K, AKT, mTOR,
PTEN and BRAF), and selectively regulates the translation of a set
of target mRNA distinct from those regulated by MNK1/2 and eIF4A.
This may expand the potential patient population that may benefit
from translation regulation therapy.
About Tomivosertib (eFT508)Tomivosertib is
eFFECTOR’s wholly-owned, highly selective translation regulation
inhibitor that targets MNK1 and MNK2 (MNK1/2). The oral, small
molecule drug candidate has been shown to enhance killing of tumor
cells by T cells, delay T-cell exhaustion/dysfunction and enhance
the T-cell central memory pool, in part by down-regulating multiple
checkpoint proteins including PD-1, PD-L1, TIM-3 and LAG-3.
Tomivosertib is being evaluated in KICKSTART, eFFECTOR’s
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b study in
non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”) in combination with
pembrolizumab. The KICKSTART trial builds on results obtained in an
earlier study of tomivosertib as an extension of checkpoint
inhibitor treatment in patients experiencing insufficient response
to an FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitor alone.
Please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov for further
information on ongoing clinical trials of
tomivosertib.
About eFFECTOR TherapeuticseFFECTOR is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering the
development of a new class of oncology drugs referred to as
selective translation regulator inhibitors. eFFECTOR’s STRI product
candidates target the eIF4F complex and its activating kinase,
mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (MNK 1/2). The eIF4F complex
is a central node where two of the most frequently mutated
signaling pathways in cancer, the PI3K-AKT and RAS-MEK pathways,
converge to activate the translation of select mRNA into proteins
that are frequent culprits in key disease-driving processes. Each
of eFFECTOR’s product candidates is designed to act on a single
protein that drives the expression of multiple functionally related
proteins, including oncoproteins and immunosuppressive proteins in
T cells, that together control tumor growth, survival and immune
evasion. eFFECTOR’s lead product candidate, tomivosertib, is a MNK
1/2 inhibitor, currently being evaluated in KICKSTART, a
randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled Phase 2b trial of
tomivosertib in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with
metastatic NSCLC. Zotatifin, eFFECTOR’s inhibitor of eIF4A, is
currently in the dose-escalation portion of a Phase 1/2 trial, with
Phase 2a expansion cohorts expected to initiate in the second half
of 2021. eFFECTOR has a global collaboration with Pfizer to develop
inhibitors of a third target, eIF4E. eFFECTOR plans to evaluate
zotatifin as a potential host-directed anti-viral therapy in
patients with mild to moderate COVID in collaboration with the
University of California, San Francisco, under a $5 million grant
sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
Additional Information and Where to Find ItOn
May 26, 2021, eFFECTOR entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan
of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Locust Walk Acquisition
Corp. (NASDAQ: LWAC), a special purpose acquisition company, and
Locust Walk Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
LWAC.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, LWAC has filed a
registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which includes a
document that will serve as a prospectus and proxy statement of
LWAC, referred to as a proxy statement/prospectus. A proxy
statement/prospectus will be sent to all LWAC stockholders. LWAC
also will file other documents regarding the Merger Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Transactions”) with the
SEC. Before making any voting decision, investors and security
holders of LWAC are urged to read the registration statement, the
proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed
or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the
Transactions as they become available because they will contain
important information about the Transactions, including the terms
of the Transactions, the parties involved and the risks associated
with the Transactions.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free
copies of the registration statement, the proxy
statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that
will be filed with the SEC by LWAC through the website maintained
by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, these documents, when
available, can be obtained free of charge from LWAC upon written
request to Locust Walk Acquisition Corp., c/o eFFECTOR, 11120
Roselle Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92121, Attn: Secretary, or
by calling (858) 925-8215.
Participants in the SolicitationLWAC and
eFFECTOR and their respective directors and executive officers may
be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
LWAC’s stockholders in connection with the Transactions. A list of
the names of the directors and executive officers of LWAC and
information regarding their interests in the Transactions will be
contained in the proxy statement/prospectus when available. You may
obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding
paragraph.
No Offer or SolicitationThis communication does
not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to
buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor
shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of such other jurisdiction.
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release
contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements
of historical facts contained in this press release, including
statements regarding the potential that inhibition of eIF4E could
broaden the treatment landscape for cancer patients, and the
proposed business combination of eFFECTOR and LWAC, are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions,
including, but not limited to: potential delays in the
commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical trials;
disruption to eFFECTOR’s operations from the COVID-19 pandemic,
including delaying or otherwise disrupting its clinical trials,
manufacturing and supply chain; eFFECTOR’s dependence on third
parties in connection with product manufacturing and clinical
testing; the results of preclinical studies and early clinical
trials are not necessarily predictive of future results; the
success of eFFECTOR’s clinical trials and preclinical studies for
its product candidates; unexpected adverse side effects or
inadequate efficacy of eFFECTOR’s product candidates that may limit
their development, regulatory approval and/or commercialization, or
may result in recalls or product liability claims; risks relating
to the proposed business combination, including the risk that the
transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; and
the risks associated with eFFECTOR’s business and the business
combination set forth in the Appendix to the investor presentation
filed as Exhibit 99.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by
LWAC on May 27, 2021 . Because forward-looking statements are
inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot
be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond LWAC’s and
eFFECTOR’s control, you should not rely on these forward-looking
statements as predictions of future events. The foregoing list of
factors is not exclusive, and you should carefully consider the
foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described
in the “Risk Factors” section of LWAC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with SEC on March 29,
2021, the registration statement on Form S-4 discussed above and
other documents filed by LWAC from time to time with the SEC. These
filings identify and address other important risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements,
including the risk that the conditions under the Merger Agreement
are not satisfied. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance
on forward-looking statements, and except as required by law. LWAC
and eFFECTOR assume no obligation and do not intend to update or
revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise. Neither LWAC nor eFFECTOR
gives any assurance that either LWAC or eFFECTOR or the combined
company will achieve its expectations.
Contacts:
Investors:Stephanie CarringtonWestwicke, an ICR
Company646-277-1282Stephanie.Carrington@westwicke.com
Media:Heidi Chokeir, Ph.D.Canale
Communications619-203-5391heidi.chokeir@canalecomm.com
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