Nuvalent reveals preclinical data on cancer drug zidesamtinib

Published 29/04/2025, 18:18
Nuvalent reveals preclinical data on cancer drug zidesamtinib

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Nuvalent, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company valued at $5.4 billion, has announced the publication of a manuscript in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics detailing the molecular design and preclinical activity of its novel ROS1 inhibitor, zidesamtinib. This drug is currently under evaluation in the ARROS-1 Phase 1/2 trial for advanced ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other solid tumors. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial health score, with liquid assets significantly exceeding short-term obligations.

The publication sheds light on the selective targeting of ROS1 drug-resistant mutations by zidesamtinib, particularly the common G2032R mutation. Preclinical studies have shown zidesamtinib to suppress on-target resistance and inhibit brain tumors more effectively than other ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) at clinically relevant concentrations. The manuscript also presents the first crystal structure of ROS1 G2032R in complex with zidesamtinib, providing insights into its selective molecular design and activity against resistance mutations while sparing the tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) family, potentially reducing neurological adverse events. With the company’s upcoming earnings report scheduled for May 8, 2025, InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed analysis and additional insights about the company’s development pipeline and financial outlook.

Zidesamtinib has been granted breakthrough therapy designation for treating ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC previously treated with multiple ROS1 TKIs and orphan drug designation for ROS1-positive NSCLC. Nuvalent expects to report pivotal clinical data from the ARROS-1 trial for TKI pre-treated patients with advanced ROS1-positive NSCLC in the first half of 2025, supporting a planned New Drug Application submission by mid-year 2025. Analyst consensus remains highly bullish on the stock, with price targets ranging from $100 to $137 per share, reflecting confidence in the company’s pipeline potential.

Nuvalent, known for its targeted therapies for cancer, aims to address the limitations of existing therapies by developing small molecules that can overcome resistance, minimize adverse events, and provide more durable responses. The company is advancing a robust pipeline with investigational candidates for various cancer types, including ROS1-positive, ALK-positive, and HER2-altered NSCLC, and multiple discovery-stage research programs.

This news is based on a press release statement and reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance cancer treatment options. As with all clinical trials, the outcomes of Nuvalent’s research are subject to a range of risks and uncertainties.

In other recent news, Nuvalent has been the subject of positive analyst attention, with UBS upgrading its stock rating from Neutral to Buy and maintaining a $100 price target. Analyst David Dai cited the company’s strong fundamentals and potential market leadership in therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as key reasons for the upgrade. Nuvalent’s NSCLC therapies are projected to have a peak sales opportunity of $3.3 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.8 billion. Additionally, H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating with a $110 price target, emphasizing the company’s implementation of Expanded Access Programs (EAP) for its drugs, zidesamtinib and neladalkib. These programs aim to provide treatment for patients with specific types of NSCLC who have exhausted previous therapies. The demand for these clinical trials has been high, indicating a significant need for new treatment options. Nuvalent’s accelerated timeline for releasing pivotal topline data for zidesamtinib also signals strong interest from the medical community. These recent developments suggest a favorable outlook for Nuvalent’s growth and potential market impact.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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