APC002

APC002 is a preclinical-stage nucleic acid aptamer drug developed by Aptacure Therapeutics in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University. It is designed to target and antagonize Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a secreted protein that modulates the Wnt signaling pathway and is frequently overexpressed in various cancers, contributing to tumor progression and bone metastasis. The drug consists of two specific aptamer variants: Apc002-1, which targets the N-terminal and Linker 2 interaction sites of DKK1, and Apc002-2, which targets the C-terminal domain. By inhibiting DKK1, APC002 aims to treat gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, and tumor bone metastases. The technology originated from research conducted at Hong Kong Baptist University, and the drug has received an FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of gastric cancer.