Tumor hypoxia - a new method for fighting cancer

Checkpoint inhibitors are one of the major products for kidney cancer treatment, but they are not ideal. Therefore, scientists develop combined strategies that may become the most effective methods for fighting such tumors. HIF-2α inhibitors are a new class of drugs designed as an addition to standard cancer immunotherapy.

Last year, the acquisition by Merck & Co of Peloton Company was associated with the pharmaceutical giant's interest in a completely new mechanism for fighting cancer, which in turn was aimed at creating a hypoxic environment around tumors.

The biotech company Arrowhead was the first to join the game. The company began the research with phase Ib. Arrowhead ARO-HIF2 is a RNA drug that targets HIF-2α transcription factor, which is involved in the regulation of the response to low oxygen levels. This drug is currently being tested for renal cell carcinoma. Peloton project, formerly PT2977, currently MK-6482 is the first drug to target HIF-2α as well. The advantage of MK-6482 is that it is primarily intended for oral use, as opposed to ARO-HIF2, which is intended only for intravenous administration. MK-6482 has entered the third phase of research in kidney cancer, showing excellent results in early stage trials.

SOURCE: EVALUATE