Lantern Pharma Inc. received a notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) covering a method of treatment for Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT) using LP-184, an aggressive and rapidly growing form of cancer of the central nervous system. LP-184 is the first of Lantern?s drug candidates developed by leveraging Lantern?s AI and ML platform, RADR®, to advance to a first-in-human Phase 1 basket trial. Lantern has rapidly advanced the clinical development of LP-184, activated the initial clinical trial sites, and has begun screening patients.

Indications for the LP-184 trial are anticipated to include relapsed/refractory advanced pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma (GBM), brain metastases (brain mets), and multiple other recurring, advanced solid tumors with DNA damage response deficiencies. The dosage and safety data obtained in the Phase 1 trial will be used to advance the CNS indications, including ATRT, for a future Phase 2 trial to be sponsored by Lantern?s wholly-owned subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics Inc. Globally, the aggregate annual market potential of LP-184?s target indications is estimated to be approximately $10+ billion, consisting of $5+ billion for CNS cancers and $6+ billion for other solid tumors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously granted LP-184 Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the treatment of pediatric patients with ATRT.

The FDA has also previously granted LP-184 ODD for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and for the treatment of malignant glioma, including GBM. A notice of allowance is issued after the USPTO determines that the prosecution on the merits of a patent has been completed and grants the patent upon payment of the patent issuance fee. Additional corresponding patent applications are pending in Europe, Japan, Canada, and Australia.

ATRT is an aggressive and rare form of cancer of the central nervous system that predominantly affects children under the age of three. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) classifies ATRT as Grade IV tumors, meaning they are malignant (cancerous), aggressive, and fast-growing. The root genetic cause of ATRTs is attributed to bi-allelic mutations that inactivate either SMARCB1 (also known as INI1) or SMARCA4.

Approximately 90% of pediatric ATRTs can be attributed to alterations in the SMARCB1 gene. SMARCB1 was included among several genes whose expression negatively correlated with LP-184 sensitivity in tumors. This in silico correlation was confirmed by in vitro and in vivo assessments of LP-184 in ATRT, with the highest potency of LP-184 in vivo having been seen in ATRT xenografts.