Rashida Karmali
Seminars
Wednesday 18th February 2026
TALK 1: CTO: An Oral, Brain‑Penetrant Inhibitor of Non‑Voltage‑Dependent Ca²⁺ Signaling for Glioblastoma
- CTO is an oral, brain‑penetrant inhibitor of non‑voltage‑dependent Ca²⁺ signaling, a pathway dysregulated in GBM and linked to cancer growth, invasion, DNA‑damage response, and immune evasion.
- In a Phase 1 trial (44 patients), CTO showed a safe toxicity profile, and in pediatric PDX models (GBM, HGG, DMG) it demonstrated greater antitumor activity than temozolomide; a pediatric Phase 1 trial is planned.
- Phase 1B combination studies showed therapeutic tumor‑tissue levels and responses across MGMT and EGFR subtypes, including 6 PRs and 1 CR in rGBM, and PFS 17.9 months/OS 37.8 months in nGBM. Biomarker‑driven Phase 2 trials are planned; CTO holds Orphan Drug designation, strong IP to 2037+, and seeks strategic partners.
