Janux Therapeutics Announces Clinical Milestone Achievement in TRACTr Collaboration With Merck, Paving the Way for Cancer Treatment Breakthroughs.

Janux Therapeutics has announced the dosing of the first patient in its TRACTr collaboration with Merck. The collaboration aims to develop novel immunotherapies using Janux's proprietary technologies. The company is eligible to receive development and commercial milestone payments and royalties. Janux's TRACTr, TRACIr, and ARM platforms are being developed for various cancer types, including prostate cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and autoimmune diseases.

Janux Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: JANX) has achieved a significant milestone in its collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), as it announced the dosing of the first patient in its TRACTr program [1]. This collaboration, initiated in December 2020, aims to develop novel immunotherapies leveraging Janux's proprietary technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Janux is eligible to receive development and commercial milestone payments and royalties.

The TRACTr platform, which selectively modulates T cells to fight cancer, is a key focus for Janux. The company is advancing several clinical candidates, including JANX007, which targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and is in a Phase 1 clinical trial for adult patients with mCRPC, and JANX008, which targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and is being studied in a Phase 1 trial for multiple solid cancers [1].

Janux's TRACIr and ARM platforms are also being developed for various applications. For instance, a CD19-ARM candidate is being explored for the potential treatment of autoimmune diseases [1]. The company's pipeline includes additional TRACTr, TRACIr, and ARM programs for future clinical development.

David Campbell, Ph.D., President and CEO of Janux, stated, "This milestone underscores the strength of our approach to generating value through both internal innovation and strategic partnerships, and it reflects the growing promise of our TRACTr pipeline—precision engineered to selectively modulate T cells to fight cancer" [1].

Janeen Doyle, Chief Corporate and Business Development Officer of Janux, added, "We’re thrilled to mark this pivotal achievement with the first clinical program emerging from our collaboration with Merck. This event displays strong collaboration with our partner and the ability to advance novel therapeutics derived from our underlying platforms from discovery into clinical trials" [1].

This announcement highlights Janux's commitment to advancing its immunotherapy pipeline and its strategic partnership with Merck. The company's success in this collaboration could pave the way for future collaborations and further development of its innovative immunotherapies.

References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/janux-therapeutics-announces-clinical-milestone-achievement-in-tractr-collaboration-with-merck-ce7c5ed8df8df323