ApMnk Program

AptusBiotech is developing a therapeutic aptamer against MNK1b (apMNKQ2) that i) inhibits tumorigenesis, affecting proliferation and the ability to form colonies in three breast tumor lines; ii) it produces cell death, mainly through a caspase-mediated apoptotic mechanism; iii) inhibits the metastatic capacity of breast tumor cells, altering the epithelium-mesenchyme transition (TEM) and inhibiting cell migration and invasion. In addition, apMNKQ2 aptamer received intravenously reduce tumour size, inhibit tumour cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in an orthotopic model of triple negative breast cancer in mice, in MDA-MB-231 tumour line. Garcia-Recio, E. M et al (2016). «Characterization of MNK1b DNA Aptamers That Inhibit Proliferation in MDA-MB231 Breast Cancer Cells.» Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 5: e275.

AptaBreast (RTC2019-007227-1) financed by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 as well as European Union NextGenerationEU/ PRTR, aims to address the preclinical phase (non-regulatory and regulatory) for breast cancer therapy, as well as to study its potential efficacy in pancreatic cancer treatment.

ApMNKQ2 is a 29-nucleotide aptamer with high specificity and affinity to MNK1.

ApMNKQ2 inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Animal experimental models: ApMNKQ2 reduces the tumor size, cell proliferation and number of metastasis.