# Arylsulfonamides for the Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

> **NIH NIH R43** · ONCOSPHERIX, INC. · 2020 · $399,774

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract:
 Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary malignant eye tumor in adults. Approximately 50%
of patients with UM develop metastases, with death occurring in the majority within 1 yr of detecting metastases.
High metastatic risk of UM can be identified with validated tools that categorize patients as Class 1 (low
metastatic risk) or Class 2 (high metastatic risk: 72% 5 yr metastatic risk). Our goal is to reduce this risk.
 We have shown that UM patients at high risk for developing metastases display high expression of
Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-regulated gene products CXCR4 and MET. We have developed and optimized
proprietary small molecule inhibitors of HIF that block HIF-driven gene expression and can be combined with
agents that work in non-hypoxic regions. The HIF inhibitors have an arylsulfonamide structure, and the lead
clinical candidate, called 64B, is being advanced in this proposal. Properties that support its selection include
1) its efficacy at blocking primary growth of UM within the eye, inhibiting metastases, and prolonging survival in
several mouse models of UM; 2) its ability to be safely given in combination with other cancer therapeutics; 3)
its ability to inhibit both HIF-1 and HIF-2-mediated gene expression with similar IC50s and at clinically achievable
doses; 4) its low toxicity at clinically effective doses, both alone and in combination with other anticancer drugs;
and 5) its unique mechanism of action.
This phase 1 SBIR will provide information that is critical for the design of IND-enabling studies and
clinical trials targeting high risk UM: 1) the route by which 64B will be delivered in clinical trials for UM (oral or
intravenous) and 2) the determination of whether it would be clinically beneficial to combine 64B with Sunitinib,
a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that is currently being tested for reducing risk of relapse in high-risk UM patients.
We anticipate that 64B as a single agent will be comparable to Sunitinib at reducing UM growth and metastases,
and we anticipate the combination will dramatically enhance tumor control without exacerbating toxicity.
Salt selection and polymorph selection will be used to enhance oral bioavailability, followed by PK/PD
studies designed to determine if serum and tissue levels resulting from oral delivery of 64B are sufficient to inhibit
HIF function in target tissues. If not, 64B will be delivered parenterally. 64B will be administered by selected
delivery route to treat UM in a rabbit model that closely mimics the human disease. Primary tumor growth will
be monitored using fundoscopy and high-frequency ultrasound (HF-US). The impact of 64B on metastases and
HIF-driven processes and will be assessed at necroscopy. The relationship between circulating tumor DNA and
tumor response will also be determined. 64B will be compared to, and combined with, Sunitinib, an agent that
works by a distinct mechanism of action. Successful completion of this SBIR ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10150178
- **Project number:** 1R43CA254756-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** ONCOSPHERIX, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret Kenny Offermann
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $399,774
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-17 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10150178

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10150178, Arylsulfonamides for the Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Uveal Melanoma (1R43CA254756-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10150178. Licensed CC0.

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