Aprea Therapeutics (APRE) Oppenheimer 36th Annual Healthcare Life Sciences Conference summary

Strategic focus and clinical program overview

• Advancing a portfolio of small molecules targeting the DNA damage response pathway, with a lead focus on the next-generation WEE1 inhibitor, APR-1051, and additional programs including ATR and p53 reactivators.

• Emphasizing precision oncology by matching drugs to specific biomarkers, aiming for safer, more effective alternatives to traditional chemotherapy.

• Current clinical focus is on APR-1051, with dose escalation ongoing and patient selection based on specific mutations such as PPP2R1A, FBXW7, and HPV.

Clinical data and efficacy insights

• Early clinical data show partial responses and stable disease in heavily pre-treated patients, with notable tumor and biomarker reductions at 150 mg and 220 mg doses.

• Two patients with PPP2R1A mutations demonstrated significant responses, prompting plans to enrich for this biomarker in future cohorts.

• The drug is administered daily, differentiating it from competitors using intermittent dosing schedules.

• Minimal drug-related adverse effects observed, with no significant hematologic or gastrointestinal toxicity to date.

Safety, tolerability, and competitive landscape

• APR-1051 has shown a favorable safety profile, with most adverse events limited to mild nausea and fatigue.

• Competitor programs have struggled with narrow therapeutic windows and toxicity, while APR-1051 demonstrates a potentially wider therapeutic index.

• Avoidance of PLK co-inhibition is a key differentiator, reducing off-target toxicity and maintaining efficacy.