ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced initial data for its PRC2 inhibitor ORIC-944, operational highlights for 2023, and anticipated upcoming milestones. As of December 10, 2023, the initial Phase 1b monotherapy data for ORIC-944, a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of PRC2, in patients with metastatic prostate cancer demonstrated: Potential best-in-class drug properties, including clinical half-life consistent with preclinical prediction of >10 hours, which is superior to other PRC2 inhibitors and supports QD dosing; No signs of CYP autoinduction that is seen with first-generation PRC2 inhibitors; Robust target engagement with maximal decrease (=75%) in H3K27me3 in monocytes from peripheral blood samples at doses as low as 200 mg QD, with low inter-patient variability; and Favorable safety with only grade 1 and 2 treatment-related adverse events at dose levels corresponding with strong target engagement. Emerging profile with superior drug properties support advancement into combination development in prostate cancer with AR inhibitor(s).