Breakthrough Preclinical Data for SLS009 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Unveiled
San Diego, Monday, 28 April 2025.
SELLAS presents promising preclinical results for SLS009, showing up to 97% reduction in TP53-mutated leukemia cells, marking a significant advancement in AML treatment strategies.
Introduction to SLS009 and SELLAS
SELLAS Life Sciences Group, a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company, has presented groundbreaking preclinical data on SLS009 (tambiciclib) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference held from April 25-30, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. The data highlights the efficacy of SLS009 in treating TP53-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a subtype historically known for poor patient outcomes [1].
Efficacy of SLS009 in Preclinical Studies
In the presented studies, SLS009, a selective CDK9 inhibitor, showed remarkable ability to induce apoptosis in TP53-mutated AML cells. Notably, when used in combination with the azacitidine-venetoclax regimen, it led to a reduction of leukemia cell populations by up to 97%, and by up to 80% when used as a monotherapy [1]. These results signify a potential shift in therapeutic approaches for AML patients with this mutation.
Potential Impact on AML Treatment
The findings were described by SELLAS’s CEO, Angelos Stergiou, MD, as a crucial advancement in addressing one of the most challenging subsets of AML. Historically, AML patients with the TP53 mutation have had poor responses to intensive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants. The introduction of SLS009 could change this paradigm by improving survival rates and reducing resistance to existing treatments [1][2].
Future Studies and Clinical Implications
The promising results have paved the way for Phase 2 investigations where SLS009 will be evaluated for safety and efficacy in combination with other treatments. Preliminary data from these ongoing studies already show enhanced survival times for relapsed/refractory AML patients. These efforts align with broader industry goals to provide better outcomes for high-risk cancer patient populations through targeted therapies [1][2].