Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company, has submitted an investigational new drug application (IND) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a first-in-human study of RX-5902 to treat advanced or metastatic solid tumours.

RX-5902 is a first-in-class small molecule that inhibits the phosphorylated p68 RNA helicase, a protein that plays a key role in cancer growth, progression and metastasis. The phosphorylated form of p68 RNA helicase is only present in cancer cells and is absent in normal cells.

“RX-5902 is an exciting first-in-class p68 RNA helicase inhibitor that has considerable commercial potential,” said Rick Soni, president of Rexahn. “Pre-clinical studies have shown that RX-5902 exhibits very potent anti-tumour activity in various cancers including melanoma, renal, ovarian and pancreatic. Additional studies suggest that RX-5902 is effective in drug-resistant cancer cells and is synergistic when combined with current cancer drugs.”

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs.