The company has three different drug development candidates that target cancer signaling networks. The belief is that these could be used to generate a range of small molecule inhibitors. They could also have varying functions, molecular compositions, and potential therapeutic utility in diverse cancer indications.
CUDC-101 is the lead drug candidate from Curis’ network-targeted cancer programs. The data in its CUDC-101 showed that the multi-targeted HDAC, EGFR and Her2 inhibitor appears to prevent drug resistance and tumor metastasis. This indicated that Erlotinib-resistant cancer cells and cancer cells harboring MET amplification are sensitive to the treatment of CUDC-101; and CUDC-101 reduces migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells. These are in vitro tests, but may have the potential to simultaneously suppress tumor growth and overcome drug resistance.
The data of its CUDC-907 showed a long half-life in tumor tissue and oral bioavailability in preclinical models, which showed promising anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in hematologic cancer models.
The data regarding Debio 0932 highlighted the discovery of Debio 0932 (formerly CUDC-305) is presented as an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of Heat Shock Protein 90 that is being tested in a Phase I clinical trial by Curis licensee Debiopharm.
Curis shares are up 7% at $3.95 today, and that marks a new 52-week high versus a 52-week low of $1.21. The market cap is now $300 million and we have seen some 445,000 shares trade hands versus an average volume of about 850,000 shares. For whatever it is worth, Curis was briefly worth $20.00 and a tad higher when it came public in 2001.
When traders see the volume pick up further and a new 52-week high, this one will become more of a focus in the coming days. How it trades will ultimately depend upon how well the presentations are received and what possibilities exist ahead for the company.
The company had about $40 million in cash and short-term securities at the end of 2010 and has no real long-term debt. It is going to need more partners or it is going to need to raise capital ahead as analysts from Thomson Reuters see a loss in both 2011 and 2012.
JON C. OGG
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