Natera Latitude MRD will support treatment response monitoring in a new Phase 1 clinical trial. Natera, Inc. announced the collaboration with Kupando Therapeutics. The trial will evaluate Kupando’s lead immunotherapy candidate, KUP-101, in advanced skin cancers.The study will take place across activated clinical sites in Germany. It will also examine serial circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamics during treatment.
Natera is a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine.Under the agreement, Natera will provide its tissue-free Latitude assay. The test detects molecular residual disease (MRD) during cancer treatment.Researchers will use Latitude MRD testing at multiple timepoints throughout the trial. The Phase 1 study will assess patients with advanced tumors across multiple skin cancers.
These patients will receive treatment with KUP-101 during the clinical investigation. Meanwhile, researchers will track ctDNA changes to monitor treatment response.This approach may provide additional molecular insights during treatment development. Following the first patient’s successful dosing, Kupando’s safety committee approved continued enrollment.The company will now enroll additional patients across activated clinical sites.Leading oncology centers in Germany are participating in the ongoing study.Therefore, the trial will continue evaluating KUP-101 in patients with advanced solid tumors.
KUP-101 Targets Innate Immune Activation
KUP-101 aims to activate the innate immune system and induce trained immunity. The candidate could potentially serve as a tissue-agnostic treatment for multiple solid tumor types. Kupando is evaluating the therapy as a standalone treatment and with other agents. The company will use molecular response data to assess treatment activity in the trial.
Natera Latitude MRD is suited to evaluate treatment response through ctDNA dynamics. The testing approach can support molecular monitoring across diverse solid tumor types. Consequently, the trial may generate additional evidence about KUP-101’s therapeutic activity.
“Dosing our first patient is a defining inflection point in Kupando’s history,” said Johanna Holldack, M.D., founder and chief executive officer, Kupando Therapeutics. “By leveraging the power of innate immune stimulation and the induction of trained immunity, KUP-101 represents a fundamentally different way of approaching hard-to-treat cancers. Natera’s Latitude test can provide valuable insights into treatment response dynamics, helping us better understand the molecular activity of this novel therapeutic approach and advance our clinical development program for patients with advanced solid tumors.”
Natera and Kupando Advance Precision Cancer Monitoring
The collaboration combines investigational immunotherapy with molecular response monitoring.It also highlights the growing role of ctDNA in oncology clinical trials. Researchers increasingly use circulating biomarkers to assess molecular changes during treatment.Such monitoring can provide information alongside conventional clinical assessments.
“We are pleased to work with Kupando as they advance this promising first-in-class rapproach to innate immune activation,” said Eric Matthews, general manager, biopharma, Natera. “Latitude’s capabilities make it ideally suited to evaluate ctDNA dynamics across diverse solid tumor types, and we look forward to generating molecular insights that can support Kupando’s development of KUP-101 and ultimately help patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.”
Natera Latitude MRD Joins Kupando Therapeutics Trial
The companies will continue evaluating molecular response during the Phase 1 trial. The study will focus on patients with advanced cancers involving multiple skin cancer types.At the same time, researchers will monitor ctDNA dynamics across several treatment timepoints.These findings could support future development decisions for KUP-101.
Natera Latitude MRD will therefore play a role in the trial’s molecular monitoring strategy.The collaboration also expands the use of tissue-free MRD testing in clinical development.As a result, the study could provide further insights into treatment response.It may also support Kupando’s broader development program for advanced solid tumors.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
