Hoth Therapeutics Inc., a patient-focused biopharmaceutical company, has entered into a Master Services Agreement with Aronnax, Inc. for its HT-KIT cancer therapeutic.
HT-KIT is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets the proto-oncogene cKIT being developed for the treatment of mast cell-derived cancers and anaphylaxis. It previously received Orphan Drug Designation from FDA.
Research conducted at NC State University to evaluate the efficacy of HT-KIT in cancerous and non-cancerous cells, has demonstrated that HT-KIT effectively kills human mast cells that rely on signaling through the KIT receptor to survive. The effect of a single dose lasted for about two weeks, while reduced KIT expression lasted for 7 days. This result also demonstrated HT-KIT’s potential to reduce KIT expression using GIST cells and kill within 48 and 72 hours along with lower KIT expression in AML cells over 72 hours.
Aronnax will oversee the third-party provider, ITR Laboratories, conducting intravenous injection using increasing/decreasing doses for each subsequent group. A timeframe of forty-eight hours will be allowed between each dose group. This study will provide Hoth key metrics in both max dose and range finding elements which will help formulate its proposed clinical trial.
“We continue to make quick progress in moving HT-KIT from the lab to patients. This further analysis will help us with that process, finalizing the protocols in our upcoming IND-enabling study,” stated Robb Knie, CEO, Hoth Therapeutics. “We are pleased to further engage Aronnax and ITR Laboratories on these key studies given their reputation for IND-enabling studies.”
