Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. today announced that results presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer showed that ganetespib (STA-9090) is more potent than 17-AAG and is synergistic with doxorubicin in a model of small cell lung cancer. Ganetespib is a potent inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) currently being studied in a broad range of clinical trials with approximately 400 patients treated to date. Ganetespib is structurally unrelated to first-generation, ansamycin-family Hsp90 inhibitors such as 17-AAG or IPI-504.

An investigator-sponsored Phase 2 single agent trial of ganetespib is currently being conducted in patients with relapsed or refractory small cell lung cancer.

“Results presented today show that ganetespib has greater potency in small cell lung cancer cell lines compared to 17-AAG and also suggests that ganetespib and doxorubicin may be synergistic when dosed sequentially,” said Giuseppe Giaccone, M.D. , Ph.D., Branch Chief, Medical Oncology Branch and Affiliates, National Cancer Institute. “Intriguingly, ganetespib withdrawal after 48-72 hours of treatment induces precipitous cell death, suggesting that intermittent treatment may be an effective strategy in small cell lung cancer. These results are encouraging and suggest the potential for ganetespib single agent or combination clinical development strategies in small cell lung cancer.”