News Details
NCCN Oncology Research Program to Oversee Trials of the FGFR Inhibitor Futibatinib in Tumors with Aberrant FGFR Expression, in Collaboration with Taiho Oncology
First NCCN ORP research project to exclusively assess efficacy of FGFR inhibitors alone and in combination with other treatments.
PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [January 27, 2020] — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Oncology Research Program (ORP) today announced plans to evaluate futibatinib (TAS-120), a potent and selective inhibitor of the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR). The project will include pre-clinical, translational and clinical trials using futibatinib as monotherapy and in biologically relevant combination regimens for malignancies with FGFR 1-4 aberrations. This project will be the first NCCN research program to study an FGFR inhibitor. Specific research areas will be determined by a group of cancer research experts from NCCN Member Institutions who form a Request for Proposals (RFP) Development Team. The research funding is supported by a $2-million grant from Taiho Oncology.
“We’re excited to help facilitate new research into innovative ways for managing cancer,” said Wui-Jin Koh, MD, Chief Medical Officer, NCCN. “We still have a lot to learn about FGFR signaling and how to optimally target this receptor as a component of cancer therapy. We look forward to the potential new discoveries that may come from these investigations.”
“We are proud to support NCCN ORP research to better understand the optimal role of futibatinib in treating malignancies with FGFR 1-4 aberrations,” said Martin J. Birkhofer, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Taiho Oncology, Inc. “Every day, we are learning more and more about futibatinib, and this research will expand our knowledge of how this investigational compound works, with the goal of being able to better target its use in those who may see the greatest benefit from it.”
The first phase of this project will involve the creation of an RFP, which will be distributed in the next few months. The awarded projects will be announced following review of submitted proposals.
The NCCN ORP fosters innovation and knowledge discovery that improves the lives of people with cancer and supports preclinical, translational, and clinical research and quality improvement projects in oncology at NCCN Member Institutions. In an effort to improve collaboration in cancer research, the NCCN ORP also maintains a shared resources website and an informed consent database. For more information, visit NCCN.org/orp.
# # #