INGELHEIM, Germany and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., USA, (9 October 2024) Boehringer Ingelheim and Circle Pharma (Circle) announce a new research collaboration and license agreement with the shared goal to develop a first-in-class cyclin inhibitor that can halt the growth of cancer cells potentially offering hope to those living with hard-to-treat cancers.
Uncontrolled cell growth is a common feature in most tumor types and is a driving force in the formation of tumors. Genetic alterations like mutations or amplifications in the genes encoding the regulatory machinery of cell division contribute to malignant growth in a significant fraction of all solid tumors. That is why Boehringer Ingelheim is targeting the proteins involved in this process, a promising strategy for new cancer treatments.
Current methods targeting cyclin-dependent kinases can be limited by low selectivity and toxicity. Circle has developed a possible solution to these challenges by creating macrocycle therapies that directly inhibit cyclins, the proteins that regulate cell division.
“We’re delighted to be joining forces with Circle’s scientists to develop an innovative cancer treatment based on their proprietary macrocycle platform molecules to achieve our goal of transforming the lives of people living with cancer,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. “This new collaboration complements our oncology research portfolio, and further reinforces our commitment to tackling intractable targets.”
David Earp, Ph.D., JD, chief executive officer, Circle Pharma said, “With our lead program, CID-078, a Cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor, we have demonstrated the capability of our MXMOTM platform to deliver oral macrocycles against a target that was previously considered to be undruggable. We’re excited to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim to leverage the platform against another challenging cyclin target that offers the potential to address high unmet need cancer indications.”
This partnership is a significant step toward Boehringer Ingelheim’s goal of transforming cancer care. It bolsters the already robust oncology pipeline of cancer cell-directed and immuno-oncology investigational therapies for smart combinations that may offer the greatest benefit for people living with cancer.
As part of the agreement, Circle Pharma will receive an upfront payment and potential development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments of up to USD $607 million.
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About Boehringer Ingelheim in oncology
Linda Ruckel
T: 203-791-6672
linda.ruckel@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Affairs
Binger Str. 173
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We have a clear aspiration – to transform the lives of people with cancer by delivering meaningful advances, with the ultimate goal of curing a range of cancers. Boehringer Ingelheim’s generational commitment to driving scientific innovation is reflected by the company’s robust pipeline of cancer cell-directed and immuno-oncology investigational therapies, as well as the smart combination of these approaches. Boehringer’s ambition in oncology is to take a diligent and broad approach, creating a collaborative research network to tap into a diversity of minds, which is vital in addressing some of the most challenging, but potentially most impactful, areas of cancer research. Simply put, for Boehringer Ingelheim, cancer care is personal, today and for generations.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. More than 53,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow. Learn more at https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/uk (UK) or https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com (rest of world).
About Circle Pharma
South San Francisco-based Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of intrinsically cell-permeable macrocycles that can be delivered by multiple routes, including oral administration. Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocycle therapies for challenging targets to address unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma is focusing its development efforts on cyclins, which are master regulators of the machinery that controls the progression of cells through the cell cycle and are key drivers in many cancers. The company’s lead candidate, CID-078, is currently in clinical trials as part of a growing pipeline of novel macrocycle therapeutics.
To learn more about Circle Pharma, please visit www.circlepharma.com.
Media Contacts:
Boehringer Ingelheim
Reinhard Malin
+49 (6132) 77-90815
reinhard.malin@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Linda Ruckel
203-791-6672
linda.ruckel@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Circle Pharma
Roslyn Patterson
650-825-4099
roslyn.patterson@circlepharma.com
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – September 16, 2024 – Circle Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing cell-permeable macrocycles as a new class of therapies, today announced two executive appointments as it continues to advance its MXMO macrocycle discovery platform and its oncology pipeline. Marie Evangelista, Ph.D., has been appointed Senior Vice President and Head of Cancer Biology, while Constantine Kreatsoulas, Ph.D., has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Head of Discovery Technology Sciences. These appointments align with Circle’s investments in its pipeline of macrocycle therapies, including its lead program, CID-078, currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in solid tumors.
“These two senior executive appointments deepen Circle’s drug discovery expertise and scientific leadership” said David J. Earp, JD, Ph.D., Circle’s president and CEO. “With Circle’s first oral macrocycle, CID-078, now in the clinic, we are keen to deploy our MXMO platform against a wide range of new targets as we drive to expand our pipeline. I look forward to working closely with Marie and Constantine as they lead our discovery teams to bring more first-in-class medicines to the clinic.”
Dr. Evangelista has more than 18 years of experience in translational oncology and small molecule drug discovery, having successfully led programs from early discovery to clinical development. Prior to joining Circle, she spent 15 years at Genentech where her leadership was instrumental in advancing Genentech’s KRAS-targeting programs. Following Genentech, Dr. Evangelista held senior leadership roles at Frontier Medicines and most recently at Recursion. Dr. Evangelista holds a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.
“I’m excited to join Circle at this important juncture, where its innovative macrocycle platform is translating into clinical progress,” said Dr. Evangelista. “I look forward to contributing to the development of transformative therapies for patients.”
Dr. Kreatsoulas has played a pivotal role at Circle Pharma since joining in 2021, overseeing the development of the MXMO platform and contributing to the advancement of CID-078 into the clinic. Before joining Circle Pharma, he held leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck & Co., and Bristol-Myers Squibb, with expertise in molecular design, machine learning, and computational toxicology. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University and a master’s degree in Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance from Temple University.
“Being a part of Circle’s evolution to a clinical-stage company has been incredibly rewarding,” said Dr. Kreatsoulas. “I am very excited to step into the role of Head of Discovery Technology Sciences as we continue to advance our ground-breaking macrocycle technologies.”
About Circle Pharma, Inc.
South San Francisco-based Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of intrinsically cell-permeable macrocycles that can be delivered by multiple routes, including oral administration. Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocycle therapies for challenging targets to address unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma is focusing its development efforts on cyclins, which are master regulators of the machinery that controls the progression of cells through the cell cycle and are key drivers in many cancers. The company’s lead candidate, CID-078, is currently in clinical trials as part of a growing pipeline of novel macrocycle therapeutics.
To learn more about Circle Pharma, please visit www.circlepharma.com.
Media Contact:
Roslyn Patterson
Director of Corporate Communications
Phone: 650.825.4099
Email: roslyn.patterson@circlepharma.com
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Circle Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing cell-permeable macrocycle therapies, today announced that it presented a digital poster at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer.
CID-078, Circle Pharma’s first-and-only-in-class cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor, demonstrated single-agent tumor regressions in both small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) preclinical models. Tumor models with high E2F targets and G2M checkpoint hallmark pathways scores and elevated levels of E2F1, cyclin B1 and ESPL1 demonstrate tumor growth inhibition and/or regression when treated with CID-078 dosed at clinically achievable doses. CID-078 activity correlated with E2F1 and ESPL1 expression and was consistent with the proposed mechanism of action of cyclin A/B RxL inhibition leading to DNA damage. The data suggest that CID-078 holds promise as a monotherapy for patients with these cancers, which will be evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial.
The digital poster can be viewed here.
About CID-078, Circle Pharma’s Cyclin A/B RxL Inhibitor Program
CID-078 is an orally bioavailable macrocycle with dual cyclin A and B RxL inhibitory activity that selectively targets tumor cells with oncogenic alterations that cause cell cycle dysregulation. In biochemical and cellular studies, Circle Pharma’s cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors have been shown to potently and selectively disrupt the protein-to-protein interaction between cyclins A and B and their key substrates and modulators, including E2F (a substrate of cyclin A) and Myt1 (a modulator of cyclin B). Preclinical studies have demonstrated the ability of these cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors to cause single-agent tumor regressions in multiple xenograft models.
About Circle Pharma, Inc.
South San Francisco-based Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of intrinsically cell-permeable macrocycles that can be delivered by multiple routes, including oral administration. Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocycle therapies for challenging targets to address unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma is focusing its development efforts on cyclins, which are master regulators of the machinery that controls the progression of cells through the cell cycle and are key drivers in many cancers.
To learn more about Circle Pharma, please visit www.circlepharma.com.
Media Contact:
Roslyn Patterson
650.825.4099
roslyn.patterson@circlepharma.com
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Circle Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing cell-permeable macrocycles as a new class of therapies, today announced the successful closing of a $90 million Series D financing round, which includes the conversion of a convertible note. The financing was led by The Column Group with participation from new and existing investors, including Nextech Invest and Euclidean Capital.
The proceeds from the financing will be used to fund the clinical development of CID-078, Circle Pharma’s first-and-only-in-class cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor, and to support the development of the company’s portfolio of discovery programs built with its MXMO macrocycle platform.
“We are grateful for the continued support of such a strong syndicate of investors as we advance our pioneering work in macrocycle therapeutics,” said David Earp, JD, Ph.D., CEO of Circle Pharma. “This financing not only enables us to progress CID-078 through critical stages of clinical development but also allows us to further advance our pipeline of innovative therapies targeting cancer and other serious diseases.”
With this latest round of funding, Circle Pharma is well positioned to advance its mission of creating effective treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses.
About Circle Pharma, Inc.
South San Francisco-based Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of intrinsically cell-permeable macrocycles that can be delivered by multiple routes, including oral administration. Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocycle therapies for challenging targets to address unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma is focusing its development efforts on cyclins, which are master regulators of the machinery that controls the progression of cells through the cell cycle and are key drivers in many cancers.
To learn more about Circle Pharma, please visit www.circlepharma.com.
Contacts
Roslyn Patterson
650.825.4099
roslyn.patterson@circlepharma.com
Read original article at Business Wire
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Circle Pharma, a leader in macrocycle drug discovery and development, announced the submission of its first Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CID-078, a first-and-only-in-class cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the development of novel drug candidates generated by Circle’s proprietary MXMO™ platform for difficult-to-drug targets in oncology and other serious illnesses.
CID-078 is an orally bioavailable macrocycle that has shown preclinical efficacy across multiple tumor types characterized by high E2F expression, including small cell lung cancer, triple negative breast cancer, ER-low breast cancer, and HR-positive breast cancer following a CDK 4/6-inhibitor. The IND submission includes comprehensive data from preclinical studies which have demonstrated a safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile of CID-078 to support the proposed phase 1 trial.
CID-078 is designed to selectively inhibit key protein-to-protein interactions involving cyclins A and B, which are implicated in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. Cyclins are a family of proteins that function as master regulators of the cell cycle. Early work in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate and Circle Pharma’s Scientific Advisory Board Chair William G. Kaelin Jr., MD, showed that disrupting the function of cyclins in certain types of cancer cells that had dysregulated cell cycle control was synthetic lethal – meaning that these cancer cells were selectively killed while the viability of normal cells was unaffected.1 The mechanism of action of CID-078 offers a novel therapeutic approach to potentially address unmet medical needs in patients with advanced solid tumors who currently have limited therapeutic choices.
“I am proud that we have reached this critical milestone in the development of CID-078,” said David J. Earp, CEO of Circle Pharma. “Our team has worked diligently to advance this promising candidate from discovery through preclinical development. The IND filing represents a major step forward in our mission to harness the power of macrocycle therapies to create effective treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses.”
“We believe, based on our preclinical data package, that CID-078 has the potential to provide a transformative therapeutic option for patients with cancer,” said Michael Cox, PharmD, MHSc, BCOP, head of Early Development and senior vice president. “We are excited to advance CID-078 into clinical studies. This step underscores our commitment to develop innovative therapeutics that target challenging and previously undruggable proteins.”
Pending regulatory approval, Circle Pharma plans to initiate a phase 1 clinical trial of CID-078 in patients with advanced solid tumor malignancies. The dose escalation and dose expansion portions of the trial will evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics, as well as anti-tumor activity as assessed by objective response rate and duration of response.
About CID-078, Circle Pharma’s Cyclin A/B RxL Inhibitor Program
CID-078 is an orally bioavailable macrocycle with dual cyclin A and B RxL inhibitory activity that selectively targets tumor cells with oncogenic alterations that cause cell cycle dysregulation. In biochemical and cellular studies, Circle’s cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors have been shown to potently and selectively disrupt the protein-to-protein interaction between cyclins A and B and their key substrates and modulators, including E2F (a substrate of cyclin A) and Myt1 (a modulator of cyclin B). Preclinical studies have demonstrated the ability of these cyclin A/B RxL inhibitors to cause single-agent tumor regressions in multiple xenograft models.
About Circle Pharma, Inc.
South San Francisco-based Circle Pharma is advancing the discovery and development of intrinsically cell-permeable macrocycles that can be delivered by multiple routes, including oral administration. Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform combines structure-based rational drug design and advanced synthetic chemistry to develop a new generation of macrocycle therapies for challenging targets to address unmet clinical needs. Circle Pharma is focusing its development efforts on cyclins, which are master regulators of the machinery that controls the progression of cells through the cell cycle and are key drivers in many cancers.
To learn more about Circle Pharma, please visit www.circlepharma.com.
1 Chen et al., PNAS 96, 4235 (1999)
Contacts
Roslyn Patterson
650.825.4099
roslyn.patterson@circlepharma.com
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