Tempest Therapeutics, Inc. announced that new data from its TPST-1120 and TREX1 programs were highlighted in two poster presentations at the 2023 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting taking place April 14, 2023 to April 19, 2023 in Orlando, FL. The presentation for TPST-1120, a clinical-stage oral selective PPAR? antagonist, highlighted new translational biomarker findings from the completed monotherapy and nivolumab combination therapy dose escalation Phase 1 trial showing on-target changes in gene signatures in the peripheral blood that were dependent upon drug exposure levels.

In addition, distinct on-target changes in both lipid profile and NF-?B pathway regulated immune response gene signatures were observed in patients who achieved a RECIST response, compared with non-responders, following treatment with TPST-1120 and nivolumab. The presentation for Tempest's preclinical TREX1 inhibitor program, designed for tumor-selective activation of the STING pathway, is the first public demonstration of human TREX1 enzyme—TREX1 inhibitor X-ray co-crystal structures, which has facilitated the development of potent and specific TREX1 inhibitors with drug-like properties. Lead series molecules resulting from this activity demonstrated therapeutic benefit in tumor-bearing preclinical models.