Nxera Pharma cancer drug HTL0039732 enters phase 2a trial

Nxera Pharma and Cancer Research UK have announced the first patient dosing in the Phase 2a study for HTL0039732 (NXE0039732), an orally available EP4 receptor antagonist for advanced solid tumors. This progression follows favorable results from the Phase 1 study, which demonstrated the drug's ability to bind effectively to its target EP4 receptor while avoiding EP2 receptor binding, alongside good safety and tolerability when combined with atezolizumab.

The Phase 2a study, managed and funded by Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development, will expand to four cohorts including microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer, gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Early efficacy observations in the Phase 1 trial included two partial responses across two different cancer types.

The Phase 1 results are scheduled for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2025 in October. HTL0039732 operates by inhibiting prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling via the EP4 receptor, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to recognize and suppress cancer cells.