Continuously Evolving Our NMS Portfolio:
Proven Success, Driven by Ongoing Innovation
Building on our legacy of Oncology expertise, we are advancing innovative
Small Molecule and ADC platforms to drive our strategic focus
Encorafenib
Encorafenib (BRAF)
Encorafenib is a small molecule inhibitor of the BRAF kinase, a key enzyme in the tyrosine kinase/MAPK signaling pathway (TK-RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK), which is often mutated and activated in different tumors, such as melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and others. Encorafenib is a potent BRAF inhibitor for which NMS has licensed enabling IP rights for commercialization. BRAFTOVI® (the brand name for encorafenib) is approved in combination with the MEK inhibitor binimetinib (MEKTOVI®) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation. It is also the first BRAF inhibitor approved in combination with cetuximab (Erbitux®) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation. More recently, the FDA and EMA have approved BRAFTOVI® + MEKTOVI® for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation. A royalty agreement with Blue Owl Capital has been announced in September 2024. Press release
Entrectinib (TRK, ROS)
Entrectinib is a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases TRK A/B/C, ROS1 and ALK, whose activating gene rearrangements drive proliferation in small subsets of different tumor types. Entrectinib was invented and developed into Phase I by NMS, then licensed to Ignyta (San Diego, USA), a company subsequently acquired by Roche. Entrectinib is one of the first drugs approved with an agnostic indication for adult and pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions, independently from the tumor type. It is also approved for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Entrectinib has been specifically designed to efficiently penetrate the blood brain barrier and it is efficacious also in patients with brain metastases, with a good tolerability profile.
Onvansertib (PLK1)
Onvansertib is the first orally available, potent and selective inhibitor of the PLK1 kinase, a master regulator of mitotic progression which is overexpressed and activated in proliferating cancer cells. The drug was invented and developed into Phase I by NMS, then licensed to the US Biotech Trovagene/Cardiff Oncology. Clinical development is currently ongoing with promising results in Phase I/II studies in combination, including a Phase Ib/II study with FOLFIRI/bevacizumab for treatment of metastatic KRAS mut CRC. For a comprehensive, up-to-date, Onvansertib overview please refer to the Cardiff Oncology website.
NMS-153 (MPS1)
NMS-153 is a potent and highly selective small molecule inhibitor of Monopolar Spindle 1 (MPS1, also known as TTK kinase) with differentiated, dual anti-cancer mechanism of action. MPS1 is found to be highly expressed in a number of human tumors that play a critical role in the control of mitosis. The mechanism of action of NMS-153 relies upon targeting mitotic cancer cells, causing premature entry into anaphase, before chromosomes are properly aligned at the metaphase plate. This leads to mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis while potentially also harnessing a patient’s immune system by activation of the cGAS/STING pathway and inducing immunogenic cell death.
NMS-153 is a molecule with long residence time on the target and selective against a wide range of tested enzymes. In vitro, a brief exposure to the compound is sufficient to commit cancer cells to death. Its anti-proliferative activity is associated with a demonstrated mechanism of action in different tumor cell lines, including hepatocellular carcinoma and broad in vivo efficacy both as single agent and in combination with standards of care. NMS-153 is currently in Phase I/II clinical development in hepatocellular carcinoma as single agent (NCT05630937) Combination studies are planned.
NMS-812 (PERK/GCN2)
NMS-812 is a novel, potent and orally bioavailable dual inhibitor of PERK (PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase) and GCN2 (General Control Nonderepressible 2), with potential for first-in-class in several potential oncology indications. PERK and GCN2 are effectors of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR), a pro-survival pathway exploited by cancer cells to survive stress. The modulation of ISR may potentially overcome drug resistance and offer superior anti-tumoral activity. In addition, NMS-812 also modulates the immune response via direct and indirect mechanisms which may contribute to anti-cancer activity. The first-in-human (FIH) study showed an excellent pharmacokinetic profile allowing daily oral dosing and likely permissive safety for further development. Based on preclinical data and its unique, dual targeting of the two key components of the Integrated Stress Response PERK and GCN2, NMS-812 may represent a novel strategy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), with potential for synergies with other drugs and overcoming drug resistance.
NMS-293 (PARP1)
NMS-293 is a unique, intrinsically targeted PARP1 inhibitor. It is the only clinical stage inhibitor that is PARP1-selective with high potency and non-trapping. Recent, emerging, second generation PARP1-selective inhibitors may have similar bone marrow effects relative to marketed PARP1/2 inhibitors; for example: 11% grade 3 neutropenia at the relevant dose of saruparib (Yap et al AACR 2024) being similar to 9-10% for olaparib (Lynparza USPI)
Since trapping is known to cause toxicity in healthy cells (Hopkins et al MCR 2019, Morice et al Lancet Hem 2021), it is possible that trapping PARP inhibitors will continue to have difficulty combining with DNA-damaging drugs or chemotherapies, as has been the case historically. This limitation of combinations will likely hinder development of trapping PARP inhibitors in therapies beyond BRCA mutations or other types of homologous recombination deficiency, including chemotherapies and ADC payloads. In this way, many avenues of therapies and tumors have potential for NMS-293 beyond BRCA mutation tumors.
NMS-293 is brain-penetrant, adding value to its non-trapping, PARP1-selective features since it has potential for brain tumors or tumors bearing brain metastases. NMS-293 is currently enrolling in a study of high-grade gliomas and IDH wild type GBM (glioblastoma) co-dosing with temozolomide. Safety findings were presented in 2023 (Guerts et al, AACR-NCI-EORTC 2023) NMS-293 has completed Phase 1 in a multi-tumor monotherapy study for dose finding (PARPA-293-001, NCT04182516 as well as the Phase 1 part of the temozolomide co-dose glioma and GBM study (PARPA-293-002, NCT04910022), which is now enrolling in Phase 2 expansion.
Atamparib (PARP7)
Atamparib is the first-ever developed PARP7 inhibitor. The PARP7 enzyme, a key member of the PARP family, plays a critical role in oncology by being upregulated in response to cellular stress and regulating key oncogenic proteins that promote cancer cell survival through its mono-ADP ribosylation activity. By targeting and inhibiting this activity, atamparib effectively inhibits tumor growth in specific cancer types. This compound is highly potent against PARP7, with a long-lasting target binding and exceptional selectivity over other PARP family members. As an orally bioavailable small molecule, atamparib is the first therapeutic agent targeting PARP7 to advance into clinical trials. It has demonstrated an excellent clinical safety profile (NCT04053673, NCT05127590, JRCT2031210373) and shows promising therapeutic potential both as a monotherapy and in combination with other treatments for select indications.
