Crinetics CRN09682 First-in-Class SSTR2 Non-Peptide Drug Conjugate Reported — Direct Challenge to Peptide-Based PRRT
BioWorld reported April 24 on Crinetics Pharmaceuticals' CRN09682, a first-in-class non-peptide drug conjugate (NDC) coupling a small-molecule somatostatin receptor 2 (SST2) agonist to monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) via a cleavable linker. The compound is in Phase 1/2 BRAVESST2 trial in metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and other SST2-expressing solid tumors — directly competing with peptide-radioconjugate therapies like Novartis' Lutathera and Perspective Therapeutics' alpha-PRRT. The non-peptide approach trades off receptor-binding peptide selectivity for small-molecule manufacturing simplicity.