BioXcel Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BTAI), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing artificial intelligence to develop transformative medicines in neuroscience and immuno-oncology, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated as a Fast Track development program the investigation of BXCL701 in combination with a CPI for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNC) with progression on chemotherapy and no evidence of microsatellite instability. The FDA grants Fast Track designation to facilitate the development and expedite the review of medicines to treat serious conditions, fill unmet medical needs, and bring promising medicines to patients more quickly. Therapies granted this designation are given the opportunity for more frequent interactions with the FDA, a rolling review, and potential eligibility for accelerated approval and priority review.
“The FDA’s Fast Track designation for the investigation of BXCL701 in SCNC is an important recognition of our most advanced immuno-oncology asset and an acknowledgment of its potential to address the considerable unmet medical need in these patients. At the same time, it further validates the unique AI-based drug re-innovation approach that we used to discover this asset,” said Vimal Mehta, Ph.D., CEO of BioXcel Therapeutics. “BXCL701 has already demonstrated considerable potential in our clinical trials to date, and we plan to further define its development path while exploring strategic options for our OnkosXcel Therapeutics subsidiary.”
SCNC, classified as a “cold” tumor, represents an underserved, growing patient population, with cases increasing due to earlier and more widespread use of androgen receptor inhibitors. In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates that 299,0101 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States, with approximately 20% expected to progress to the more aggressive metastatic castration-resistant form, including an estimated 11,960 patients expected to progress to SCNC2.
“SCNC is characterized by poor prognosis and a low survival rate, and current treatment options are suboptimal,” said Vincent J. O’Neill, M.D., Executive Vice President, Chief of Product Development and Medical Officer of BioXcel Therapeutics. “We are encouraged by the potential of BXCL701, which has demonstrated clinical proof of concept in both SCNC and adenocarcinoma. Following the positive survival results from our Phase 2 trial that we reported at the end of last year, we look forward to further discussing the registration path at an upcoming meeting with the FDA.”
