Amplia Enters into Second Agreement with Korean Specialist Drug Screening Company Next&Bio to Explore Combination Therapy with FAK Inhibitor and kRAS Inhibitors
MWN-AI** Summary
Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX:ATX; OTCQB:INNMF) has announced a significant advancement in its collaboration with Korean specialist drug screening company Next & Bio. Following a successful initial phase, the companies will continue their research partnership to explore the synergistic effects of Amplia's Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitor, narmafotinib, combined with innovative kRAS inhibitors, aimed at treating pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors.
The first phase showcased promising results, indicating that narmafotinib can effectively inhibit the growth of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells with kRAS gene mutations, present in over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. The next phase will focus on studying the combined efficacy of narmafotinib with kRAS inhibitors, a novel therapeutic class showing potential for enhanced treatment outcomes.
Next & Bio specializes in advanced drug screening using models derived from actual patient tumors, thus enhancing the accuracy and predictability of treatment results. Amplia’s CEO, Dr. Chris Burns, expressed enthusiasm about extending this collaboration, highlighting the strong scientific basis for the combination therapy and its potential to open up further partnership and commercialization opportunities.
Meanwhile, Next & Bio CEO Mr. SangWook Park conveyed excitement over the collaboration's progress and the shared goal of developing new therapeutic solutions for pancreatic cancer patients, who face significant unmet medical needs.
Amplia's focus on FAK inhibition aligns with its broader strategy to target fibrotic cancers, with narmafotinib currently in clinical trials demonstrating promising efficacy in advanced pancreatic cancer. As research progresses, stakeholders are keen to watch for advancements, potentially reshaping treatment pathways for challenging malignancies.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX:ATX; OTCQB:INNMF) has stepped into a promising arena with its recent announcement of a second collaboration with Korean drug screening company Next & Bio. This partnership seeks to explore the synergistic effects of Amplia's Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitor, narmafotinib, in conjunction with experimental kRAS inhibitors, targeting pancreatic cancer—a malignancy that continues to pose significant challenges due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis.
The initial phase of this collaboration has reportedly yielded promising data regarding the efficacy of narmafotinib against patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells. This is pivotal considering that kRAS mutations are present in over 90% of pancreatic cancer cases. The scientific rationale for combining FAK and kRAS inhibitors lies in their distinct yet complementary mechanisms in tumor biology, potentially leading to enhanced therapeutic responses.
Given the unmet medical need in treating pancreatic cancer and the growing interest in precision oncology, Amplia's strategy to solidify its pipeline could position it favorably for future partnerships and commercial opportunities. Investors should monitor the outcomes of the upcoming collaboration data presentations and clinical trial results, as these could significantly influence the company’s valuation and market sentiment.
Additionally, the ongoing clinical trials—ACCENT and AMPLICITY—aimed at testing narmafotinib in combination with established chemotherapies, are expected to provide further validation of its therapeutic potential. Superior response rates and progression-free survival outcomes compared to standard treatments could bolster investor confidence.
Amplia's focus on a high-demand oncology segment, coupled with a strong preclinical and clinical development strategy, makes it a compelling watch. However, potential investors should consider the inherent risks associated with biopharmaceutical developments and prepare for volatility as news and data emerge.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The preclinical research collaboration with specialist drug screening company Next & Bio has been extended
- The collaboration explores the effect of Amplia’s FAK inhibitors in combination with experimental drugs called kRas inhibitors
- kRas inhibitors are being developed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and other solid tumours
Melbourne, Australia, Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX:ATX; OTCQB:INNMF), (“Amplia” or the “Company”), is pleased to announce that it has entered into the second phase of a research collaboration with Korean preclinical drug screening company Next & Bio. This follows a successful initial engagement that demonstrated the powerful capability of the Next & Bio technology as well as promising preliminary data from the study.
The collaboration has been investigating the ability of Amplia’s FAK inhibitors to suppress the growth of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells that possess genetic mutations in the kRAS gene known to be present in >90% of pancreatic cancers. Amplia’s best-in-class FAK inhibitor narmafotinib showed promising activity in these initial tests and this data will be presented at a forthcoming scientific conference.
Building on these promising data, further studies investigating the activity of a combination of narmafotinib with known inhibitors of the mutant kRAS gene will now be undertaken. kRAS inhibitors are an exciting new class of drug in development for a range of cancers including pancreatic cancer, and there is strong scientific rationale for a combination of FAK and kRAS inhibition to provide improved responses.
Next & Bio, a subsidiary of Hk Kolmar Holdings in Seoul, Korea, offers advanced drug screening by testing treatments on cancer cells taken directly from patients. The company has developed these patient-derived cell models specifically for pancreatic cancer. Importantly, these cells are grown to closely replicate the tumour environment for more accurate and predictive results.
Amplia’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr Chris Burns, commented, “The initial phase of our collaboration successfully demonstrated the activity of Amplia’s FAK inhibitors on patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells. Building on these promising results, we are eager to further investigate the potential synergy between narmafotinib and kRas inhibitors. This next phase of the collaboration is expected to strategically position Amplia for expanded partnering opportunities and commercial growth.”
Next and Bio’s Chief Executive Officer Mr SangWook Park, stated, “We are delighted to build on the success of our initial collaboration and to advance into a second phase of partnership with Amplia Therapeutics. In this collaboration, Next & Bio will leverage its preclinical research platform to investigate synergistic effects with kRAS inhibitors, with the ultimate goal of delivering new therapeutic options for pancreatic cancer patients with high unmet medical needs.”
This ASX announcement was approved and authorised for release by the Board of Amplia Therapeutics.
About Amplia Therapeutics Limited
Amplia Therapeutics Limited is an Australian pharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitors for cancer and fibrosis. FAK is an increasingly important target in the field of cancer and Amplia has a particular development focus in fibrotic cancers such as pancreatic and ovarian cancer. FAK also plays a significant role in a number of chronic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). For more information visit www.ampliatx.com and follow Amplia on X (@ampliatx) and LinkedIn.
About Narmafotinib
Narmafotinib (AMP945) is the company’s best-in-class inhibitor of the protein FAK, a protein over-expressed in pancreatic cancer and a drug target gaining increasing attention for its role in solid tumors. The drug, which is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of FAK, has shown promising data in a range of preclinical cancer studies. Narmafotinib is currently undergoing a clinical trial (the ACCENT trial) where it is dosed in combination with the chemotherapies gemcitabine and Abraxane in first-line patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The trial has already achieved its primary endpoint in achieving a confirmed response rate of 35%, superior to 23% reported in the benchmark MPACT study for gemcitabine and Abraxane alone. An interim median PFS of 7.6 months has also been reported. A second trial – AMPLICITY – has recently opened and is being run under an IND at sites in Australia and the US, investigating the combination of narmafotinib with the chemotherapy FOLFIRINOX in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.
Investor Contact:
Dr Chris Burns
Chief Executive Officer
chris@ampliatx.com
U.S. Contact:
Robert Giordano
rjgiordano@ggrouplifesciences.com
+1 917 327 3938
Media Contact:
H^CK Director, Haley Chartres
haley@hck.digital
+61 423 139 163
U.S. Media:
media@ampliatx.com
FAQ**
How does the collaboration between Amplia Therapeutics Ltd INNMF and Next & Bio aim to enhance the efficacy of narmafotinib in treating pancreatic cancer, particularly concerning kRAS inhibitors?
What specific outcomes does Amplia Therapeutics Ltd INNMF expect from the extended research collaboration with Next & Bio in terms of potential commercial growth and new therapeutic options?
Can you elaborate on the scientific rationale for combining Amplia's FAK inhibitors with kRAS inhibitors in pancreatic cancer treatments and its implications for Amplia Therapeutics Ltd INNMF's pipeline?
As Amplia Therapeutics Ltd INNMF progresses into this second phase of collaboration, what partnering opportunities are anticipated, and how might they influence the development of future cancer therapies?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (OTC: INNMF).
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