Science
The Tempest team leverages both established knowledge and novel scientific insights in selecting targets and methods to modulate them, in all cases to address unmet medical need or to improve standard of care for cancer patients in a meaningful way with differentiated oncology drug candidates. Tempest takes an open-minded, scientifically driven approach in the selection of new programs, without the constraint of a specific pathway or platform bias.
PPARα Antagonism
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a transcription factor that regulates fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and inflammation and is highly expressed by many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) to a significant degree. After presenting Phase 1 data in an oral presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Tempest released positive data from a global randomized Phase 1b/2 study of TPST-1120 in combination with atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ®) and bevacizumab (Avastin®) in first-line patients with advanced HCC pursuant to a collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. The positive data showed clinical superiority of TPST-1120 in multiple study endpoints when combined with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, the standard of care in first-line HCC, when compared to standard of care alone. Tempest plans to advance TPST-1120 into a pivotal study in first-line HCC patients, as well as explore development beyond HCC given the signals observed in the Phase 1 study.
Dual EP2/EP4 Antagonism
EP2 and EP4 are two receptors in the prostaglandin (PGE2) signaling pathway promoting both tumor-growth and immune suppression, and are expressed together by many cancers, including colorectal and endometrial cancers. TPST-1495 is a potential orally bioavailable first-in-class EP2/4 dual antagonist that has completed monotherapy dose escalation, and is progressing through Phase 1/1b combination studies.
Research
Tempest Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing novel immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The company’s research interests lie not only in leveraging different approaches to target tumor cells directly, but also in harnessing the power of the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. The Tempest team is particularly interested in developing therapies that modulate the tumor microenvironment, enhance immune cell function, and overcome immune suppression within the tumor. By understanding the complex interactions between cancer cells and the immune system, Tempest aims to develop innovative treatments that improve outcomes for cancer patients.