Dr. Klein on the Safety of VERU-111 in mCRPC

Eric Klein, MD, chairman of the Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, as well as a staff member at the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discusses safety data with VERU-111 from a phase 2 trial (NCT03752099) that enrolled patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that was presented during the 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

The goal of the study was to establish a maximum-tolerated dose of VERU-111 in patients with mCRPC, as well evaluate the safety of the agent, Klein explains. The agent demonstrated favorable tolerability in the 39 patients enrolled in the phase 1b portion of the study, Klein notes. Moreover, these findings will serve as the basis for the upcoming phase 3 trial.

VERU-111 appears to be a promising agent, as prostate cancer is sensitive to agents that target the microtubule-mitotic mechanism, Klein says. This is known because other agents in the space, such as docetaxel and cabazitaxel, have been approved by the FDA for use in patients with mCRPC. The agents have been shown to reduce disease burden, Klein says. VERU-111 shows promise because it will be easier to administer with fewer adverse effects, Klein concludes.