Aprea Therapeutics announces new preclinical data, update on APR-1051

Aprea Therapeutics (APRE) announced new preclinical data and a clinical update on APR-1051, the Company’s next-generation oral WEE1 inhibitor, in human papillomavirus-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, HNSCC. These findings result from an ongoing translational research collaboration with oncology leader MD Anderson Cancer Center and support the potential of APR-1051 both as a single agent and in rational immunotherapy combinations for biomarker-driven treatment of HPV+ HNSCC. Clinical Update from Phase 1 ACESOT-1051 Trial: In a 62-year-old male with advanced HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who had progressed after three prior lines of platinum-based therapy, once-daily administration of a subtherapeutic 70 mg oral dose of APR-1051 resulted in stable disease with a 5% tumor reduction at the first radiographic assessment. The patient tolerated therapy well, with no dose-limiting toxicities reported. Next Steps and Future Development: Enrollment in the ACESOT-1051 trial is ongoing and progressing, with dose escalation into higher levels and the continued inclusion of HPV+ patients. Pending additional data, future trial arms may evaluate APR-1051 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors to address unmet medical needs across distinct patient populations.