Nurix Therapeutics Reports First Clinical Evidence of CNS Activity of NX-5948, a Brain-Penetrant, Orally Available, BTK Degrader in Development for B Cell Malignancies

Presented new case studies demonstrating clinical responses in two patients with B cell malignancies, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), each with central nervous system (CNS) involvement

Data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2024 Annual Meeting

Brain activity highlights potential for broader application of NX-5948 in autoimmune disorders with CNS involvement

SAN FRANCISCO, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRIX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted protein modulation drugs designed to treat patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced the presentation of the first findings of clinical responses in the brain for NX-5948, an orally available, selective degrader of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). The presentation included case studies for two patients, one with CLL with CNS involvement and the other with PCNSL, each demonstrating clinically meaningful responses. The presentation also provided evidence of measurable drug levels in the CNS of multiple patients in the ongoing Phase 1 trial who had CNS tumor involvement. These data were presented by Gwenn M. Hansen, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Nurix, as part of the Major Symposium session Molecular Glues, PROTACs, and Next-Gen Degraders: Discovery and Early Preclinical Advances at the AACR 2024 Annual Meeting, which is being held from April 5-10, 2024, in San Diego, CA.

“These data are the first demonstration of clinical activity in the brain of a targeted protein degrader, opening the door for new therapeutic strategies to treat leukemias and lymphomas with CNS involvement,” said Dr. Hansen. “The brain penetration of NX-5948 coupled with the clinical activity and safety profile presented to date, suggests a potential role in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia involving the CNS which are notoriously difficult to treat. It also suggests the potential to use NX-5948 as a therapeutic option for immune indications with CNS involvement such as multiple sclerosis.”

Dr. Hansen’s presentation included new data from the dose escalation stage of Nurix’s Phase 1a/1b clinical trial evaluating daily oral dosing of BTK degrader NX-5948 in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. Data were presented demonstrating detection of NX-5948 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from all patients with available CSF samples. Case studies were presented for two of these patients.