The Cancer Letter

Inside information on cancer research and drug development

Drugs & Targets

FDA grants Orphan Designation to MTG-20

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on print
BYLINE
IN THIS ISSUE
DOWNLOAD PDFTABLE OF CONTENTS

FDA granted Orphan Drug Designation for MTG-201, a therapy targeting Dickkopf-3 gene defects in various cancers, for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

The Dickkopf-3 gene produces a protein called REIC (Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells protein), which is a critical protein in the downstream mechanism of apoptosis and when absent cancer cells cannot die.

By expressing REIC protein from within cancer cells, MTG-201 induces selective apoptosis due to ER stress, directly killing the cancer and reducing cancer burden. MTG-201 also stimulates the production of activated T-cell lymphocytes that specifically target and destroy residual cancer cells.

MTG-201, developed by MTG Biotherapeutics, is currently in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of prostate cancer and mesothelioma. Preclinical programs are ongoing for the treatment of liver and bladder cancers. MTG-201 is also being evaluated for efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies.

Table of Contents

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

Black History MonthConversation with The Cancer Letter

Shearwood McClelland III: “When you stand for something, you’re always going to be attacked.”

Shearwood McClelland III’s grandfather was a ditchdigger who dreamed that his six Black daughters would become doctors. McClelland’s mother did not disappoint—she became the first Black woman board-certified in maternal fetal medicine in the history of the United States.  Now, McClelland is the chief medical officer of Cancer Health Equity at the University of Oklahoma...

By Jacquelyn Cobb
Guest Editorial

Biomarker-driven innovation: What the FDA’s evolving strategy means for oncology

As oncology enters a new era of precision medicine, the Food and Drug Administration’s evolving biomarker strategy aims to ensure that life-saving therapies are tailored to individual patient needs, fostering safer and more effective treatments.  Historically, therapies were approved with broad indications based on overall efficacy, even when outcomes for biomarker-positive and -negative patients were...

By Harpreet Singh
Sponsored

Advancing pediatric oncology and survivorship: A research vision at City of Hope

In the evolving landscape of pediatric oncology, survivorship research has become an essential component of our mission to improve long-term patient outcomes. At City of Hope, we are focused on not only curing childhood cancers but also ensuring that survivors live the healthiest lives possible. A significant part of my research has been dedicated to mitigating the long-term toxicities of cancer therapy—particularly cardiovascular complications that can arise decades after treatment.
By Saro Armenian
Table of Contents

Never miss an issue!

Get alerts for our award-winning coverage in your inbox.

Login

Site license subscribers:
Log in with your IP | Register a sponsored account