- New investigational new drug (IND) application cleared to proceed by the US FDA for a Phase 1/2 clinical study of ATR-04 for moderate to severe EGFR inhibitor (“EGFRi”) associated dermal toxicity.
- There are an estimated 150,000 patients with EGFRi-associated skin rash in the US, representing a >$1 billion global market size.
- Preclinical data show ATR-04 reduces IL-36? and Staphylococcus aureus, key drivers of EGFRi-associated skin rash.
Azitra, Inc. (NYSE American: AZTR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology, today announced the clearance of an investigational new drug (IND) application to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a first-in-human Phase 1/2 clinical study of ATR-04 for moderate to severe EGFRi associated dermal toxicity.
Francisco Salva, Azitra’s CEO, stated, "We are delighted to announce a new IND clearance in an indication with high unmet need. Many cancer patients receive EGFR inhibitors, which are efficacious for certain cancers. However, these EGFR inhibitors often have significant side effects, resulting in rashes that require treatment with antibiotics, steroids or other medications. In some cases, discontinuation of cancer therapy with the EGFR inhibitors is necessary. There are no approved therapies for this skin toxicity, and it is a high burden for these cancer patients. We are excited to expand Azitra’s clinical pipeline with this IND.”
ATR-04 is a live biotherapeutic product candidate including an isolated, naturally derived Staphylococcus epidermidis strain that was engineered to be safer by deleting an antibiotic resistance gene and engineering auxotrophy to control the growth of ATR-04. ATR-04 is in development for EGFRi-associated skin rash, which is caused by the suppression of skin immunity by EGFRis and subsequent inflammation and often elevated levels of IL-36? and S. aureus. There are approximately 150,000 patients suffering from EGFRi-induced skin toxicity in the United States, representing a >$1 billion market opportunity.
Earlier this year, Azitra announced the preclinical data around ATR-04 at the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) annual meeting and the Annual Meeting for the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy, showing significant reductions in IL-36? and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in preclinical models.
Following the clearance of the IND, Azitra plans to initiate a multicenter, randomized, controlled Phase 1/2 clinical trial of ATR-04 in patients undergoing EGFR inhibitors with dermal toxicity by the end of 2024.
About Azitra, Inc.
Azitra, Inc. is an early-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology using engineered proteins and topical live biotherapeutic products. The Company has built a proprietary platform that includes a microbial library comprised of approximately 1,500 unique bacterial strains that can be screened for unique therapeutic characteristics. The platform is augmented by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that analyzes, predicts and helps screen the Company's library of strains for drug like molecules. The Company's initial focus is on the development of genetically engineered strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, or S. epidermidis, which the Company considers to be an optimal therapeutic candidate species for engineering of dermatologic therapies. For more information, please visit https://azitrainc.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
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