Aprea Therapeutics, a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel anticancer therapies targeting the tumor suppressor protein p53, has announced a collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) to study the effects of reactivation of tumor suppressor protein p53 by APR-246.

The goal of the collaboration is to evaluate and characterize preclinical efficacy of APR-246 in combination with multiple other anti-cancer agents and across multiple tumor types. The Principal Investigator of the study is Taha Merghoub, Ph.D., and he will be conducting the research in collaboration with the laboratory of Jedd D. Wolchok, M.D., Ph.D., chief of melanoma and immunotherapeutics service, Department of Medicine.

“We are excited to initiate this new collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering,” said Christian S. Schade, president and chief executive officer of Aprea Therapeutics AB. “These studies will not only provide important insight into the effects of APR-246-induced p53 reactivation but also inform the rationale for novel combination therapies to be tested in future clinical trials.”

Aprea Therapeutics AB is a Boston, Massachusetts- and Stockholm, Sweden-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel anticancer compounds reactivating the tumor suppressor protein, p53. The company’s lead program, APR-246, a first-in-class small molecule drug candidate, is in Phase II clinical development in ovarian cancer patients, and additional clinical studies with APR-246 in other cancer indications are planned. In March 2016, Aprea completed a EUR 46 million Series B financing with an international syndicate co-led by Versant Ventures and 5AM Ventures, with additional participation by Sectoral Asset Management, HealthCap, acting as local lead investor, and existing investor, Karolinska Development.