Volastra Therapeutics has advanced its clinical-stage KIF18A inhibitor, sovilnesib, into Phase Ib clinical trials. The trials will evaluate the safety and efficacy of sovilnesib in treating platinum-resistant or refractory high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).
Sovilnesib is designed to target cancers with high levels of chromosomal instability. The FDA has designated it Fast Track, recognizing its potential for treating a population with limited treatment options.
The Phase Ib trial (NCT06084416) is a randomized dose optimization study to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose. Patients will receive daily oral sovilnesib at various dose levels.
Volastra is concurrently developing two KIF18A inhibitors: sovilnesib and VLS-1488. This parallel clinical trial strategy aims to gather comparative data and ultimately select the most promising candidate for further development.
In the United States, over 20,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed annually, and more than 75% are advanced. Most of these patients experience disease progression on platinum-based therapy.
Dr. Joyce Liu of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, a principal investigator on the trial, emphasized the need for new treatment options for advanced HGSOC patients.
Volastra is also pursuing biomarker approaches to identify patients who may respond to KIF18A inhibitors. Collaborations with Microsoft, Tailor Bio, and Function Oncology aim to develop tools to measure chromosomal instability and other response predictors.
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.
