Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. announced the presentation of new data during the 2022 AACR Special Conference on Sarcomas in Montreal, Canada. Rakovina Therapeutics' presentation entitled In vitro efficacy of a novel dual PARP-HDAC Inhibitor in Ewing sarcoma highlighted the Company's development of its novel kt-3000 series drug candidates as a potential treatment of Ewing sarcoma and other soft tissue tumors. Ewing sarcoma is a cancer that occurs primarily in the bone or soft tissues and is the second most common type of bone cancer affecting children and young adults.

Approximately 30% of patients will experience recurrence within five years following treatment. The prognosis for patients with recurrent or progressive Ewing sarcoma is poor with average survival from the time of relapse of only 14 months. Current treatments for Ewing sarcoma include chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy.

Long-term side effects of these treatments can include heart and lung problems, emotional and learning difficulties, growth issues and secondary cancers associated with chemotherapy or radiation. The development of new and improved treatments for Ewing sarcoma represents a significant unmet medical need. FDA-approved poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have previously been studied in clinical trials as a potential treatment for Ewing sarcoma but showed only limited clinical benefit.

Pre-clinical studies have revealed the potential for synergy in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma by combining a PARP inhibitor with inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes. In clinical practice, however, the benefits of combination treatments are often limited due to differing pharmacokinetics and overlapping toxicities requiring sequential administration.