The START Center for Cancer Research

We're wrapping up an inspiring time at Tumor Models Boston, filled with new connections and invigorating discussions! A big thanks to everyone who joined Michael Wick, Ph.D.’s talk on our extensive catalog of PDX models, and to those who visited our booth to meet our team. The energy and enthusiasm we've experienced here reaffirm our commitment to advancing cancer research. We look forward to continuing collaborations and the exciting opportunities ahead for XenoSTART! #PDX #ClinicalResearch #Oncology

Day 1 at #TumorModelsBoston is off to an incredible start! Our CSO, Michael Wick, Ph.D., kicked off the day with a presentation on “The Search for Clinically Relevant PDX Models.” At START, our pre-clinical research is driven by two critical questions: 1. “How will my drug perform in early phase trials?” 2. “What patient population should I target with my drug?” The key to answering these questions lies in accessing a diverse array of models from pre-treated patients. That’s exactly where we excel. With over 2,500 #PDX models across 25+ indications, we’re uniquely positioned to provide the insights needed to advance #cancer treatment. Stay tuned for more updates from the Summit!

We are honored to have dosed the first patient in the Biotheryx, Inc. BTX-9341-101 Phase 1 clinical trial at START San Antonio with PI, Dr Amita Patnaik, MD, FRCPC. BTX-9341 is a pioneering oral drug designed to degrade CDK4/6 for advanced and/or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer, tested alone and with fulvestrant for patients previously treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The dosing of this first patient marks a pivotal milestone. As Dr. Amita Patnaik so beautifully shares about this achievement, “This milestone is perfectly aligned with START’s mission to accelerate drug development and provide early access to cutting-edge anticancer therapies, bringing hope to patients and their families.” Read more about the BTX-9341 study via the Biotheryx press release: https://lnkd.in/gmjWebAT.

Meet Rickie, a dedicated grandfather and former General Motors employee from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Despite his busy retirement coaching kids and enjoying time with his grandkids, Rickie now faces a new challenge: prostate cancer.   Rickie is taking part in a community-based clinical trial at START Midwest, where he receives treatment just 10 miles from his home. His journey with the newly developed antibody-drug conjugate (#ADC) highlights the importance of local trials in bringing advanced treatments closer to patients. As Rickie puts it, "I've never been a quitter in my life, and I got more things I want to do. I'm fighting this thing all the way."   Read Rickie's full story and learn how community-based clinical trials at START are bringing hope and new treatment options to patients like him. https://lnkd.in/eTp5sCm9 #CancerResearch #ClinicalTrials #PatientStory 

Going to ESMO this year? We hope to see you there!   We're excited to announce that our team of Principal Investigators will be attending the #ESMO Congress in Barcelona from September 13-17. Join us as we share high-impact science, featuring two oral sessions led by START’s Director of Clinical Research at START Madrid-CIOCC, Dr. Emiliano Calvo Aller. He will present on "Gene Modified T Cells and New Players" and chair the session "Current Advances in Clinical Pharmacology Within Oncology, And Its Relevance for Daily Practice," where he will also discuss ADCs. Don’t miss these insightful presentations that highlight our commitment to advancing oncology research.   Interested in connecting with our team at ESMO? Schedule a meeting with us to discuss our latest research and potential collaborations: https://lnkd.in/eSECRGxw #ESMO23 #ClinicalResearch #CancerResearch 

Our recent publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, featuring START’s Dr. Amita Patnaik, MD, FRCPC, highlights the development of QTX3034, a highly-selective, non-covalent, orally bioavailable multi-KRAS inhibitor. This innovative treatment shows potent activity against several #KRAS variants, particularly G12D, and has demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in preclinical studies. The leadership of our Principal Investigators and their expertise in KRAS inhibitors continue to push the boundaries of oncology, bringing new hope to patients with challenging cancer types.    Learn more about how we're pioneering clinical trials and advancing cancer therapies. https://lnkd.in/e2nrGnT4 #CancerResearch #Oncology #KRASInhibitors #ClinicalTrials

We are proud to announce that the first patient in the Quanta Therapeutics #QTX3046 Phase I trial has been successfully dosed at START Midwest. This study aims to determine the safety and tolerability of QTX3046 as a single agent or in combination with cetuximab in patients with #KRAS G12D mutations. We’re also excited to share that this study is open at our START San Antonio site, highlighting our commitment to advancing cancer research across communities everywhere. To learn more about the QTX3046 study, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eyzJ-ZRT   #ClinicalTrials #OncologyResearch #TargetedTherapies

Are you attending Tumor Models Boston this year? We hope to see you there! Visit our booth and attend Dr. Michael Wick, Ph.D.’s presentation on July 23rd at 10 AM: "Navigating the Preclinical Oncology Landscape: The Search for Clinically Relevant PDX Models.” Discover how XenoSTART can elevate your drug development programs with over 2,500 high-quality PDX models, representing 27+ tumor types – the broadest set of indications in the industry. Join us for a deep dive at the conference. Schedule a meeting today: https://lnkd.in/e4Q3kNcg #OncologyResearch #PDXModels #ClinicalTrials

We are proud to announce that our START Midwest team has successfully dosed all three patients in the first cohort of the LOXO-FRA-24001 (J5E-OX-JZXA) trial. This innovative study, in collaboration with Loxo@Lilly, evaluates an antibody drug conjugate targeting folate receptor alpha with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload.   Dr. Nehal Lakhani, Director of Clinical Research at START Midwest, shares, "Dosing the first cohort in the LOXO-FRA-24001 trial marks a significant achievement for our team. This study exemplifies our ongoing commitment to pioneering advanced treatments in oncology."   To read more about this study, visit: https://lnkd.in/e5GuWZ-X #clinicaltrials #oncologyresearch

Have you seen the latest feature in Health Tech World? Dr. Emiliano Calvo Aller and Dr. Victor Moreno, Directors of Clinical Research at START Madrid-CIOCC and START Madrid-FJD, respectively, share their insights on Spain's evolving landscape of early-phase oncology trials. In this article, they take you through how Spain became a leader in oncology trials, the need for patient access to clinical trials within the community setting, and the exciting developments in personalized medicine and cell therapy. As Dr. Calvo said so beautifully, "For many cancer patients, participating in a Phase I clinical trial may be their only feasible option for accessing a potentially successful treatment. In these cases, access to a trial can be a much-needed source of hope." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eqfUd3gs #OncologyResearch #ClinicalTrials #HealthTechWorld