Aura Biosciences (AURA) Leerink Global Healthcare Conference 2025 summary

Novel drug platform and mechanism

• Developing virus-like drug conjugates with dual cytotoxic and immune-activating mechanisms, offering higher potency and broader tumor targeting than antibody-drug conjugates.

• Targets heparan sulfate proteoglycans, enabling application across rare and common solid tumors without changing the drug platform.

• Two clinical data sets support the mechanism, with ongoing expansion into multiple tumor types.

Ocular cancer program overview

• Focused on early-stage choroidal melanoma, aiming to transform standard of care by preserving vision and avoiding radiotherapy.

• Acute three-month treatment achieves tumor control comparable to radiotherapy, with 90% visual acuity preservation at 12 months.

• Phase II data show 80% tumor control and 90% vision preservation, supporting ongoing Phase III trials.

Patient selection and treatment paradigm

• Targets patients with indeterminate lesions or small melanomas, aiming for front-line use to avoid radiotherapy and blindness.

• Growth of lesion is the key criterion for treatment, regardless of number of risk factors.

• Estimated 8,000 early-stage patients in US and Europe, with potential for broader application as safety profile is favorable.