CAP 7.1

CAP 7.1 is a first-in-class small molecule prodrug of the well-established cytotoxic agent etoposide. It is designed to be selectively converted into its active form by carboxylesterases, enzymes that are found in significantly higher concentrations in tumor tissue compared to healthy cells. This targeted activation mechanism allows for the delivery of higher doses of the chemotherapeutic agent directly to the tumor site while maintaining a favorable safety and tolerability profile. Once activated, the drug inhibits DNA topoisomerase II, leading to double-strand DNA breaks and subsequent cancer cell death. CAP 7.1 was originally developed by CellAct Pharma and was later licensed to Mundipharma for global development. It has been evaluated in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of therapy-refractory biliary tract carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). The drug has received orphan drug designation for the treatment of biliary tract cancer.