DOYLESTOWN, PA — Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) said it will expand enrollment in its lead cancer drug trial after closing an oversubscribed $30 million private placement, as early patient responses continue emerging in a Phase 1 study of its WEE1 inhibitor APR-1051.
The financing, completed March 31, is expected to support continued development of APR-1051 and extend the company’s projected cash runway into the first quarter of 2028.
Aprea reported that two patients in the ongoing ACESOT-1051 trial evaluating APR-1051 achieved partial responses, including one confirmed response in a uterine carcinosarcoma patient with a PPP2R1A mutation.
According to the company, that patient experienced a 50% reduction in target lesion size at the initial imaging assessment, followed by an additional reduction during confirmatory imaging.
Chief Executive Officer Oren Gilad said the early efficacy findings and tolerability profile support the company’s precision oncology strategy.
“These efficacy results, coupled with the encouraging tolerability, support our precision medicine strategy and reinforce the potential of targeted therapies for patients who have limited treatment options,” Gilad stated.
The ACESOT-1051 study is evaluating APR-1051 in several difficult-to-treat cancers, including uterine serous carcinoma, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and HPV-positive head and neck cancers.
A total of 28 patients have received the treatment so far across dose levels ranging from 10 mg to 300 mg daily. The company reported stable disease in six additional patients.
Dose escalation remains underway, with enrollment currently active in the 300 mg cohort. Aprea also plans to expand the study to include at least 50 uterine serous carcinoma patients and additional ovarian cancer patients.
The company reported that APR-1051 has been generally well tolerated to date, with nausea and fatigue representing the most common adverse events. No severe treatment-related toxicities commonly associated with WEE1 inhibitors have been observed so far, according to the company.
Additional clinical data from the ACESOT-1051 study is scheduled for presentation May 30 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.
Separately, Aprea says it has paused further enrollment in its ABOYA-119 trial evaluating ATR inhibitor ATRN-119 as a monotherapy while the company explores potential combination-treatment strategies involving radiation, immunotherapy, and antibody-drug conjugates.
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $46.5 million as of March 31, compared with $14.6 million at the end of 2025.
The company reported a first-quarter operating loss of $3.4 million, compared with $4.1 million a year earlier. Net loss narrowed to $3.3 million, or $0.22 per share, from $3.9 million, or $0.66 per share, during the same period in 2025.
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