Avacta Group plc has announced that it will present updated clinical data from the First-in-Human Phase 1 trial of the peptide drug conjugate, AVA6000, at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. The presentation, titled "A Phase I trial of AVA6000, a Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP)-released and tumor microenvironment (TME)-targeted doxorubicin peptide drug conjugate in patients with FAP-positive solid tumors," will take place on April 9, 2024, during the Phase 1 Clinical Trials 2 Poster Session.

The lead author of the presentation will be Udai Banerji, MD, PhD, from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. AVA6000 is a peptide drug conjugate consisting of doxorubicin conjugated with a peptide moiety that is specifically cleaved by fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). FAP is selectively overexpressed in many solid tumors, and the peptide moiety (pre|CISIONTM) enables targeted delivery of doxorubicin directly to the TME.

Avacta Group plc is a UK-based company focused on improving healthcare outcomes through targeted cancer treatments and diagnostics. The company has two divisions: an oncology biotech division developing novel, highly targeted cancer drugs, and a diagnostics division focused on supporting healthcare professionals and broadening access to testing. Avacta's proprietary platforms, Affimer® and pre|CISION™, underpin its cancer therapeutics, with the pre|CISION™ platform modifying chemotherapy to be activated only in the tumor tissue, reducing systemic exposure and toxicity.

The lead pre|CISION™ program, AVA6000, a tumor-activated form of doxorubicin, is in Phase 1 studies and has shown dramatic improvement in safety compared with standard doxorubicin, and early signs of clinical activity. Affimer® is a novel biologic platform used to develop advanced immunotherapies and improve the performance of immunodiagnostics. The company's diagnostics division leverages the Affimer® platform to drive competitive advantage in its markets.

Avacta Group plc's presentation at the AACR Annual Meeting is a significant development in the company's efforts to advance innovative, targeted oncology drugs and powerful diagnostics, with the potential to impact healthcare outcomes for cancer patients.