Arvinas logo
Search
Close this search box.

Research and Development | Oncology

Middle aged male conversing with doctor

Images do not depict actual patients

Androgen Receptor

ARV-766 and Bavdegalutamide (ARV-110): PROTAC® AR-Targeting Protein Degraders for mCRPC

Arvinas is developing ARV-766 and bavdegalutamide, investigational, oral PROTAC® androgen receptor (AR) degraders for the potential treatment of men with metastatic prostate cancer. Preclinically, both investigational agents have demonstrated activity in models of wild type tumors in addition to tumors with AR mutations or amplifications, both potential mechanisms of resistance to currently available AR-targeted therapies.

ARV-766 and bavdegalutamide are currently in Phase 1/2 clinical studies.

ARV-766 and Bavdegalutamide are currently under investigation. The safety and effectiveness of ARV-766 and Bavdegalutamide have not yet been established.

Middle aged male conversing with doctor

Images do not depict actual patients

Males Arvinas scientific staff member looking down at materials

About the Androgen Receptor

What is androgen receptor?

Androgen receptor (AR) is a nuclear hormone receptor. The AR is part of a normal cellular pathway in which androgen (a hormone) binds to the AR, leading to its movement to the cell’s nucleus and interaction with other signaling proteins.

How does AR relate to prostate cancer?

Signaling via the AR has been implicated in prostate cancer. AR can remain a principal driver of castration-resistant prostate cancer during its transition from localized to metastatic disease. Changes to AR in prostate cancer can take multiple forms: AR gene amplification occurs in 40% to 60% of patients, amplification of a transcription regulatory region upstream of the AR gene occurs in 70% to 87% of patients, and AR point mutations occur in approximately 15% of patients.

Why is AR an important target?

In the United States, prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, and the average age of diagnosis is 66. There remains meaningful unmet medical need in the treatment paradigm of mCRPC, including a significant underserved set of patients who are or become resistant to current therapies. AR degradation has been a long-term therapeutic focus for Arvinas due to the well-documented biology of AR signaling as a principal driver of this cancer.

Middle aged man in purple plaid shirt and glasses gazing to his right

Images do not depict actual patients

Prostate Cancer and the Need for Novel AR Therapies

Around the world, prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer in men.

Novel hormonal agents have become standard of care in castration-sensitive prostate cancer, and there is a need for novel AR therapies with the potential to provide benefit for patients with mCRPC and tumors that have developed resistance. 

ARV-766 and bavdegalutamide harness the body’s natural mechanism for the degradation of the AR protein that plays a key role in the development of prostate cancer. 

We believe that by destroying AR—not simply inhibiting it—ARV-766 and bavdegalutamide may have advantages over existing inhibitors, which rely on their ability to “occupy” cellular receptors to reduce functioning. 

PROTAC® protein degraders also work iteratively, degrading many copies of the target protein, and therefore may overcome increases in target expression and mutations in the target protein, which are both common mechanisms of resistance to current standards of care.

Middle aged man in purple plaid shirt and glasses gazing to his right

Images do not depict actual patients

Portrait of smiling senior man hanging out with friends before early morning mountain bike ride

Preclinical Studies

In preclinical studies, ARV-766 and bavdegalutamide have shown promising activity as a targeted degrader of AR. In enzalutamide-sensitive models, bavdegalutamide demonstrates similar prostate-specific antigen (PSA) reduction to enzalutamide but at lower doses. In in vivo models of both acquired and intrinsic resistance to enzalutamide, bavdegalutamide has been shown to inhibit tumor growth by 70% and 100%, respectively.

Arvinas scientific staffer reviewing data on monitor screen

Our scientists have led many of the significant breakthroughs in the field.

People viewing computer monitor of resource lists

Patient resources for men with prostate cancer.

  1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts for Men. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-facts/cancer-facts-for-men.html. August 27, 2021. Accessed July 19, 2022.
  2. Neklesa et al. An oral androgen receptor PROTAC degrader for prostate cancer. Poster presented at: ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium; February 8-10, 2018; San Francisco, CA.

Arvinas

You are now leaving arvinas.com. Arvinas does not endorse or recommend the content in any third-party sites. Arvinas is not responsible and disclaims liability for the content, or for any viruses or similar harmful programs, that may be present on third-party pages or sites. Visits to a third-party website are at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions and privacy policy of such site.

Skip to content