Assistant Professor, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Dr. Mohammad Farhan
Doha, Qatar: Assistant Professor, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University Dr. Mohammad Farhan has said that he is hopeful and cautious about the potential of AOH1996, a drug targeting cancer associated isoforms of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is uniquely altered in cancer cells.
The new drug has been in development for the last 20 years, and is now undergoing pre-clinical research in the US. Dr. Farhan has said the fact that PCNA, previously considered “undruggable,” has now become the basis for the design of a drug using a structure-based drug discovery approach, represents a remarkable advancement in cancer therapeutics.
AOH1996, derived from the parent molecule AOH1160, is an orally active drug, which demonstrates superior metabolic stability and exerts its effects by interfering with DNA replication, blocking homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair, and inducing cell cycle arrest in solid tumors, without affecting non-tumor cells.
Early results showing effectiveness in treating various cancer types, as well as suppressing tumor growth in human cells and animal models, are certainly promising.
“However, it is crucial to approach human clinical trials with a measured outlook. While the preclinical data looks encouraging, human trials introduce a more complex and dynamic environment where various factors can influence drug efficacy and safety.
“Notably, there is a historically high 90% failure rate for novel chemical entities heading into clinical trials, particularly in the context of drug discovery for solid tumours. Therefore, rigorous and comprehensive clinical studies are essential to thoroughly assess the drug’s effectiveness and potential side effects in clinical settings. Further, long-term outcomes and how AOH1996 impacts the overall survival rate of cancer patients, need to be closely monitored,” Dr. Farhan said.
“The path to successful cancer therapies is challenging, and not all promising candidates translate into effective treatments. As a scientific community, we must remain vigilant, conducting thorough research, and maintaining an open dialogue throughout the clinical trial process,” he added.
Dr. Farhan’s recent publications on structure-based drugs are certainly contributing to this collective effort.
Should AOH1996 prove successful in human trials, it could represent a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment. However, we must remain cautious and await the data from these trials before drawing definitive conclusions about its clinical potential.
