HUN has already treated the first patient enrolled in this study, which will evaluate a new experimental therapy targeting the MYC protein to slow tumour progression.

The Medical Oncology Department of the University Hospital of Navarra (HUN/NOU) has treated the first patient in a multicentre Phase Ib/II clinical trial that will evaluate a new therapeutic strategy for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), one of the most aggressive cancers and one with the fewest treatment options when the disease returns. The trial, led by HUN in collaboration with Navarrabiomed and IdISNA, and sponsored by the biotechnology company IDP Pharma, will be carried out in at least nine hospitals across Spain and is expected to recruit a total of 60 patients over the coming months.

The study will assess the experimental drug IDP-121, which has been designed to act on the MYC protein, considered one of the main drivers of tumour growth and progression in several types of cancer. MYC is particularly relevant in the development of chemotherapy resistance in small cell lung cancer. The investigational treatment will be administered in combination with the chemotherapy regimen commonly used to treat this disease.
This clinical trial represents an opportunity to translate advances in biomedical research into clinical practice, with the goal of providing patients with direct therapeutic benefits.

A cancer with significant unmet therapeutic needs

Small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancers. Although it often responds initially to treatment, relapses are very common and the prognosis remains poor, especially when the disease progresses shortly after first-line therapy. In this context, researchers and clinicians are seeking new strategies capable of targeting the biological mechanisms that drive treatment resistance and disease progression.

The study is led by Dr Hugo Arasanz Esteban, medical oncologist at the University Hospital of Navarra and researcher in the Translational Medical Oncology Unit at Navarrabiomed. He highlights the importance of participating in research initiatives that may expand the therapeutic options currently available. “Patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer continue to have limited treatment options, particularly when the disease progresses soon after initial therapy. This trial allows us to evaluate an innovative MYC-targeted approach and explore its potential benefits in a clinical setting with a high unmet medical need,” explains Dr Arasanz.