Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for patients with cancer in need of new treatment options, and VolitionRx Limited a multinational epigenetics company, today announced the signing of a research and development collaboration to advance rapid epigenetic profiling using Volition’s Nu.Q® technology to support further development of Salarius’ clinical stage drug, seclidemstat.
Seclidemstat, a novel oral, reversible, targeted LSD1 inhibitor that affects gene expression, is currently in Phase 1/2 clinical studies for solid and hematologic cancers where LSD1 is implicated in disease progression. Nu.Q® has been developed as simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including cancer in humans and animals.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Volition and believe its Nu.Q® technology may provide valuable biomarker information as we seek to advance the development of seclidemstat in multiple clinical indications. Biomarkers allow for a noninvasive method for determining target engagement and potential drug activity in patients. So, this exciting research collaboration with Volition Rx Limited provides another tool to aid in the development of seclidemstat in clinic.”
David Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of Salarius
Gael Forterre, Chief Commercial Officer of Volition, added, “We are excited to be collaborating with Salarius as part of our Nu.Q® Discover program which offers biopharma companies and academia access to our state-of-the-art assays for rapid epigenetic profiling. We are looking forward to supporting Salarius in the development and release of their groundbreaking seclidemstat therapy, to directly benefit patients with cancer.”
About VolitionRx
VolitionRx Limited is a multinational epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics™ platform through its subsidiaries to develop simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases including some cancers and diseases associated with NETosis such as sepsis and COVID-19. Early diagnosis and monitoring have the potential not only to prolong the life of patients but also to improve their quality of life. The tests are based on the science of Nucleosomics, which is the practice of identifying and measuring nucleosomes in the bloodstream or other bodily fluid to indicate that disease is present. Volition is primarily focused on human diagnostics and monitoring but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics and monitoring.
Volition's research and development activities are centered in Belgium, with an innovation laboratory and office in the U.S. and additional offices in London and Singapore. For more information, please visit the Volition Rx Limited website.
About Salarius Pharmaceuticals
Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for patients with cancer in need of new treatment options. Salarius’ product portfolio includes seclidemstat, Salarius’ lead candidate, which is being studied as a potential treatment for pediatric cancers, sarcomas and other cancers with limited treatment options, and SP-3164, an oral small molecule protein degrader. Seclidemstat is currently in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for relapsed/refractory Ewing’s sarcoma and certain additional sarcomas that share a similar biology, also referred to as Ewing’s-related or FET-rearranged sarcomas. Seclidemstat has received fast track, orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations for Ewing’s sarcoma from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Salarius is also exploring seclidemstat’s potential in several cancers with high unmet medical need, with an investigator-initiated Phase 1/2 clinical study in hematologic cancers underway at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Salarius has received financial support from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to advance the Ewing’s sarcoma clinical program and was a recipient of a Product Development Award from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.