STA-9584
(VASCULAR DISRUPTING AGENT)

Program Overview

Within tumors, the growth of thousands of tumor cells requires the support of single, fragile blood vessels that, like tumor cells, rapidly proliferate.

Drugs that target tumor vessels (tumor vasculature) could therefore starve tumor cells of oxygen and nutrients, leading to the rapid death of these cells, including tumor cells resistant to other therapies.

Synta has completed lead optimization of a small-molecule vascular disrupting agent that is designed to rapidly destroy existing tumor vasculature. This vascular disrupting approach contrasts with anti-angiogenic approaches that inhibit the growth of new tumor vasculature through protracted drug administration. Tests in tumor models have demonstrated the robust, rapid efficacy of this vascular disrupting agent against both chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant tumors, as well as a promising safety profile.

References for Vascular Disrupting

• Nature Reviews Cancer, 2005, 5: 423-435: Disrupting tumor blood vessels.

• Clinical Cancer Research, 2004, 10: 415-427: Vascular targeting agents as cancer therapeutics.