DNA Therapeutics is a clinical-stage French biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of 1st-in-class targeted drugs for sensitizing resistant cancer to conventional cancer therapy. It is based on an original concept of “signal interfering DNA” (siRNA) to jam DNA damage sensing and signaling – the upstream common step of all DNA repair pathways, thus inhibiting efficiently DNA repair activities despite the redundancy of pathways.
The 1st DNA molecule, Dbait, is a mimic of DNA double-strand break (DSB). Please watch a 5′ cartoon video which shows how Dbait selectively kills cancer cells (Français/ English/中文 subtitles).
In preclinical studies, Dbait combined with various cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy showed better tumor growth control in a dose-dependent manner and complete cure at high dose without relapse in many tumor models. Dbait is also active as a standalone treatment in tumors with genetic instability, a hallmark of all cancers at the advanced stage. In addition, tumor metastasis was delayed when treated by Dbait in several animal models. Predictive biomarkers of Dbait have been identified and are under development.
DRIIM, the 1st-in-human trial of DT01 (the clinical form of Dbait) combined with palliative radiotherapy in patients suffering from metastatic melanoma has been carried out in France and shows (in 23 patients):
– Good local, systemic, and immune tolerance and safety of DT01
– Remarkable tumor response correlated with systemic exposure of DT01
These early clinical results consolidate the proof of concept of Dbait/DT01 and warrant further clinical development.