Captor Therapeutics S.A. announced the molecular targets of one of its core pipeline projects designated CT-01, which is focused on the development of TPD therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Compelling in-vitro and in-vivo preclinical data demonstrate that CT-01 candidate compounds induce degradation of Eukaryotic peptide chain release factor GTP-binding subunit ERF3A (GSPT1), Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) and
another undisclosed neo-substrate with essential function in tumorigenesis. GSPT1 is a protein involved in the termination of translation, a process in which ribosomes synthesize proteins after the transcription of DNA to RNA. There is a demonstrated link between GSPT1 degradation and antitumor activity. SALL4 is a transcription factor expressed in the human fetal liver and silenced in adults but often re-expressed in HCC patients, which correlates with poor prognosis. Captor Therapeutics plans to advance CT-01 towards Investigational New Drug Application (IND)-enabling studies and to initiate clinical trials in 2023.