Galecto is currently evaluating BRM-1420 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood, interfering with normal blood cells. AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated. Current standard of care is chemotherapy, followed by radiation therapy or stem cell transplant. In 2015, AML affected about one million people and resulted in 147,000 deaths globally, and accounts for about 1.8% of cancer deaths in the United States.
BRM-1420’s unique mechanism inhibits both ENL-YEATS and FLT3. This combination could expand points of therapeutic intervention and increases potential for enhanced clinical effectiveness versus FLT3 inhibition alone.
Galecto also focuses on cancers, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where galectin expression and activity has been associated with the development and progression of tumors, often with a poor prognosis. In particular, galectins may determine the ability of cancer cells to evade the immune system.
Galecto, Inc. develops small molecules for the treatment of cancer and severe liver diseases. The company is built on nearly 15 years of research centering on the role of galectin-3 and the use of modulators of these proteins to treat cancer and severe liver diseases. These assets, combined with BRM-1420, a novel dual ENL-YEATS / FLT3 inhibitor, provide Galecto with a unique therapeutic platform.