BOSTON—The recent SLAS conference in Boston showcased a pivotal keynote by Dr. Serena Silver, chief scientific officer of Accent Therapeutics, emphasizing the KIF18A protein as a promising target for precision oncology. This focus aligns with the increasing integration of automation in drug discovery and bioprocessing, underscoring the industry’s shift towards high-throughput methodologies.
Dr. Silver’s insights revealed that KIF18A plays a critical role in mitosis, particularly in cells exhibiting genomic instability, such as those with defective DNA repair mechanisms. Her presentation highlighted that inhibiting KIF18A can stall cell division in these unstable cancer cells, leading to apoptosis, while normal cells remain largely unaffected. This selectivity presents a significant opportunity for developing targeted therapies.
Accent’s ATX-295, a small molecule KIF18A inhibitor, demonstrated dose-dependent tumor regression in chromosomally unstable cancer models, with ongoing Phase I/II trials for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The integration of AI for analyzing chromosomal instability further positions Accent at the forefront of oncology innovation, potentially transforming treatment paradigms for various cancers.
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