COGNO and ABCARA are delighted to announce the launch of the OPAL study – a national, multi-site Phase 1 clinical trial of CT-179, a first-in-class orally bioavailable brain penetrant small molecule targeting OLIG2, a key protein associated with glioblastoma cancer stem cells.
This pivotal study represents an exciting collaboration between ABCARA, COGNO, Curtana Pharmaceuticals (USA) and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, underpinned by fundamental pre-clinical research findings led by some of Australia’s leading brain cancer scientists at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. It is a powerful example of the impact of strengthened partnerships between academia and industry. Curtana Pharmaceuticals, the developer of CT-179, is a key Texas-based industry partner in this effort.
The OPAL study is supported by MRFF grant 9500001, awarded to COGNO through the Australian Brain Cancer Mission to enhance international collaboration and expand access to new therapies for Australian patients. Importantly, OPAL marks COGNO’s and ABCARA’s first ever Phase 1 trial – bridging groundbreaking pre-clinical discoveries to early phase clinical testing and helping translate key discoveries from bench to bedside, a vision shared by both COGNO and ABCARA.
We acknowledge the leadership of Prof Bryan Day (ABCARA Co-Director/QIMR Berghofer), Prof Hui Gan (ABCARA Co-Director/COGNO/Austin Health/ONJCRI), A/Prof Hao-Wen Sim (COGNO Clinical Lead) and A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh (COGNO Chair), together with Dr Gregory Stein (CEO, Curtana Pharmaceuticals) in driving this important national clinical trial initiative.
We look forward to delivering the OPAL study to offer new treatment modalities specifically designed to improve outcomes for people affected by brain cancer.
