Dr. Dreicer on the Initial Findings With Sabizabulin in mCRPC

Robert Dreicer, MD, the deputy director and director of solid tumor oncology, Division of Hematology/Oncology, at the University of Virginia Cancer Center, discusses the initial findings with sabizabulin (VERU-111) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). 

Sabizabulin is an oral cytoskeleton disruptor that crosslinks the alpha- and beta-tubulin subunits to inhibit microtubule polymerization, says Dreicer. This inhibition appears to also disrupt the transport of the androgen receptor (AR) that is relocating into the nucleus, Dreicer adds.

During the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting, findings from an ongoing phase 1/2 trial (NCT03752099) of sabizabulin were presented. The findings demonstrated significant and durable objective tumor responses with a tolerable safety profile with sabizabulin in men with mCRPC who progressed on an AR-targeting agent, Dreicer says. Moreover, prostate-specific antigen and soft tissue responses were observed with the agent, adds Dreicer.

The phase 2 portion of the study is fully accrued, but data collection is ongoing, Dreicer says. Additionally, the phase 3 VERACITY trial (NCT04844749) is currently ongoing to evaluate sabizabulin vs an alternative AR-targeting agent in this patient population, concludes Dreicer.