Exscientia Initiates Clinical Study to Further Evaluate Functional Precision Medicine Platform in Cancer Patients

Exscientia plc (Nasdaq: EXAI) today announced the initiation of EXCYTE-2, an observational clinical study in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) to investigate the relationship between ex vivo drug response (EVDR) measured in primary blood or bone marrow samples using the company’s deep learning, single-cell precision medicine platform and actual patient clinical response.

The EXCYTE-2 study will collect blood and bone marrow samples from first-line patients with AML, with an option to expand to second-line patients. Both patient groups represent areas of high unmet medical need with low survival rates. Biobanked tissue samples, alongside clinical patient data including diagnostic and outcome data, will be collected from treatment centres with samples to be processed by Exscientia or partner laboratories. These partner laboratories will be using Exscientia’s cloud-based AI to analyse samples remotely.

In addition, the study allows for the evaluation of activity of EXS74539 (‘539), Exscientia’s LSD1 inhibitor, in a large clinically annotated sample set. This work has the potential to support the ongoing development of ‘539, particularly in the selection of patients for future clinical trials.

The EXCYTE-2 study builds on other previously initiated precision medicine focused studies, including EXALT-1 and EXCYTE-1. The EXALT-1 trial was an interventional trial and the first trial to leverage analysis of drug action in primary human cancer tissues using high content imaging and deep learning to guide treatment selection and improve outcomes in patients with late-stage haematological cancers. EXCYTE-2 will leverage the progress the company has made on its AI-driven precision medicine platform since the EXALT-1 trial was completed and will specifically evaluate earlier stage patient populations. EXCYTE-1 is an ongoing prospective observational study focused on ovarian cancer.

“This study continues our focus on establishing AI-led ex vivo drug testing in human tissue samples as the most comprehensive strategy for preclinical testing of novel therapies, additive to mouse and other animal models,” said Dr. Nikolaus Krall, EVP of Precision Medicine at Exscientia. “A robust correlation between our platform’s results and clinical outcomes has the potential to change clinical practice for the benefit of AML patients.”