MindRank, an AI-driven drug discovery company, has received FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) application clearance for MRANK-106. MRANK-106 is an orally available dual inhibitor of WEE1 and YES1 kinases, intended to treat various cancers, including pancreatic, small cell lung, ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancers. The upcoming Phase I clinical trial will assess its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.
This IND clearance is a substantial advancement for cancer treatment research. MRANK-106’s dual-targeting mechanism, combined with its preferential distribution in tissues and tumors, addresses limitations of current WEE1 inhibitors by potentially minimizing on-target hematotoxicity and enhancing efficacy. This approach offers a promising new avenue for patients battling these challenging cancers, many of which have limited effective treatment options.
MRANK-106 was developed using MindRank’s AI platforms, Molecule Pro™ and PharmKG™. Preclinical studies indicate the drug exhibits superior efficacy as a single agent and in combination therapies, along with an improved safety profile compared to single-target WEE1 inhibitors. The clinical trial launch, slated for 2025, follows successful preclinical candidate confirmation and represents MindRank’s second clinical-stage pipeline after their GLP-1 program.
The FDA’s clearance signifies a crucial step toward potentially bringing a novel therapeutic option to patients with hard-to-treat cancers. Positive clinical trial results could validate MindRank’s AI-driven drug discovery platform and pave the way for further development and potential approval of MRANK-106, impacting the oncology landscape and offering renewed hope for patients.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
