AN2 Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company specializing in boron chemistry-based therapeutics, has experienced a significant setback in its development of epetraborole, a potential treatment for various infectious diseases and cancer. The company recently discontinued its mid to late-stage study of epetraborole for patients with treatment-refractory mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease due to disappointing efficacy results. This decision follows a voluntary suspension of new patient enrollment in the phase III portion of the study earlier this year due to potentially lower-than-expected efficacy.
Despite meeting its primary endpoint in the phase II portion of the study, which evaluated the combination of epetraborole and an optimized background regimen (OBR), the study failed to demonstrate statistically significant improvement in a key secondary endpoint – sputum culture conversion at month six. While epetraborole was generally well-tolerated and the study was not terminated due to safety concerns, the company has decided to discontinue the study entirely.
In response to this setback, AN2 Therapeutics is undergoing strategic restructuring with the goal of extending its cash runway through 2027. This includes a significant workforce reduction of approximately 50% by the end of 2024. The company plans to invest heavily in research and development to advance its pre-clinical candidates for infectious diseases and oncology. AN2 Therapeutics is also moving forward with clinical trials for its other drug candidates, including AN2-502998 for chronic Chagas disease and a mid-stage study of epetraborole for melioidosis.
Despite this setback, AN2 Therapeutics remains a company to watch. The company’s innovative boron chemistry platform holds promise for developing new treatments for a range of diseases. The company’s decision to focus on restructuring and exploring other potential uses for epetraborole demonstrates its commitment to finding new ways to bring its technology to market.
