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

Obituary

Felix Feng, GU cancer researcher who made fundamental discoveries in genomics, dies at 48

The University of California, San Francisco and global oncology communities mourn the death of Felix Y. Feng, MD, a radiation oncologist and a leading figure in genitourinary cancer research. A professor of radiation oncology, urology and medicine, and vice chair of translational research at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feng died from cancer on Dec.10, 2024. He was 48.
By Melinda Krigel
Obituary

Feng’s team advanced the understanding of biomarkers in prostate cancer

The late Felix Feng, MD (center) with researchers Jonathan Chou, MD, PhD (left) and Lisa Chesner, PhD (right), in 2019.Photo by Noah BergerFelix Y. Feng, a genitourinary cancer research leader, died on Dec. 10, 2024. He was 48.This article is republished with permission by NRG Oncology.Dr. Feng was the former NRG Oncology Genitourinary Cancer Committee chair and an RTOG Foundation member. After years of dedicated and enthusiastic commitment to the NRG and previously the RTOG Genitourinary Cancer Committee, chairing or co-chairing 13 research protocols for NRG and RTOG, Dr. Feng was appointed committee chair in March 2018, following in the footsteps of Dr. Howard Sandler, his mentor. Dr. Feng was also a member of the RTOG Foundation Board of Directors.
By NRG Staff
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