Editing Scandion Oncology (section)

=== SCO-101 could be first in class in chemotherapy resistance ===
In the past, attention in combatting chemotherapy resistance has focused on repurposing existing therapeutics to serve as add-on treatments to help combat chemotherapy resistance. Specifically, many kinase inhibitors have been investigated as potential combinations to enhance irinotecan response. These include sorafenib, imatinib mesylate, sunitinib, nilotinib and dasatinib. However, to date, none have been approved for use in this setting, due mainly to a lack of efficacy or unfavourable safety profiles.

As a direct comparison to SCO-101 in mCRC, Edison Investment Research draws attention to recent data from the Phase Ib/II trial of onvansertib (Cardiff Oncology) in combination with FOLFIRI and bevacizumab in second-line mCRC patients. These data demonstrate a 35% ORR and 9.4-month mPFS (vs 13% ORR and 5.6-month mPFS historically) in KRAS mutant mCRC patients. While onvansertib works through PLK1 inhibition not ABCG2/UTG1A1 inhibition, Edison Investment Research sees these results as a meaningful comparison for SCO-101. As Scandion intends to pursue both wild-type and mutant RAS mCRC populations, Edison Investment Research believes onvansertib could represent a market competitor in mutant-KRAS mCRC patients (potentially 50%) if both drugs are approved.

There are no approved chemosensitisers on the market. Still, interest in the field means there are drugs in development that may be competition for SCO-101 in future, if approved. Here Edison Investment Research highlights two comparators. Firstly, bemcentinib, an AXL-inhibitor being developed by BerGenBio for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, is hypothesised to restore sensitivity to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors. Bemcentinib is estimated for approval in 2023 and to reach worldwide sales of $140m by 2026 (source: EvaluatePharma). Edison Investment Research believes a second, earlier-stage comparator for SCO-101 is ORIC-553 (ORIC Pharmaceuticals), a CD37 inhibitor in Phase Ib trials for the treatment of multiple myeloma.