LOR-253
LOR-253 is a proprietary small molecule compound with a very potent, yet highly selective growth inhibitor of several cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colon cancer and leukemia.
Lorus is conducting a Phase I clinical trial at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY, which is a recognized world leader in the investigation of novel cancer therapies.
LOR-253 is a first-in-class drug, being the first clinical-stage compound to stimulate Krüppel Like Factor-4 (KLF-4), a tumor suppressor factor which is characteristically deficient in a variety of cancers, including colorectal cancer and lung cancer, and so represents a new approach to cancer therapy.
First-in-class small molecule drugs similar to LOR-253 are highly desirable in-licensing targets and have in the past achieved attractive partnership deals with substantial upfront and milestone payments and double digit royalties for licensors. Indications that are experimentally promising and highly target-relevant for LOR-253 are NSCLC, colorectal cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), all cancers with high unmet medical need. Lung cancer is diagnosed in around 220,000 Americans each year, and approximately 160,000 people annually succumb to the disease in the US. NSCLC accounts for around 85% of all lung cancer diagnoses and deaths. Despite advances in medical therapy, the prognosis for NSCLC remains poor with the 5-year survival rate at around 1% for cancer diagnosed at stage IV. Colorectal cancer represents a large patient population with more than 140,000 new cases in the US each year. Prognosis in colorectal cancer patients diagnosed at a later stage remain poor, with only 6% of patients expected to survive five years. AML is a relatively rare cancer accounting for an estimated 13,000 new cases in the US each year. AML is the deadliest of all leukemias with around 9,000 deaths in the US annually. LOR-253 represents a novel approach to therapy in these otherwise hard-to-treat cancers. We believe the market for LOR-253 in solid tumors could be in excess of $2.5 billion.