MAIA Biotechnology Receives USAN Council Approval for ‘Ateganosine’ as Generic Name for Anticancer Agent THIO
Thursday, March 20, 2025
MAIA Biotechnology, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on targeted immunotherapies for cancer, has received approval from the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council for ‘ateganosine’ as the nonproprietary (generic) name for its lead molecule, THIO. This telomere-targeting anticancer agent is currently in clinical development as a first-in-class treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The USAN Council, which includes experts from the American Medical Association (AMA), the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), assigns standardised and distinct nonproprietary names to pharmaceutical substances.
Assigning a nonproprietary name to THIO is an important step in its development and regulatory progress, particularly as clinical trials advance to Phases 2 and 3. The name ‘ateganosine’ reflects the molecule’s mechanism of action, which involves modifying the telomeric guanosine of cancer cells. This unique designation is intended to facilitate clear communication among healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients.
Generic drug names are widely used in regulatory documentation, product labelling, prescribing information, promotional materials, and scientific literature. Despite this designation, MAIA will continue to use the name THIO in its clinical trial references, such as THIO-101, THIO-102, THIO-103, and THIO-104.
Ateganosine (THIO, 6-thio-dG, or 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine) is an investigational telomere-targeting agent being evaluated for its potential in NSCLC treatment. Telomeres and the enzyme telomerase play a crucial role in cancer cell survival and resistance to existing therapies. The modified nucleotide 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine induces telomerase-dependent telomeric DNA modification, triggering DNA damage responses and selective cancer cell death. Additionally, ateganosine-damaged telomeric fragments accumulate in cytosolic micronuclei, activating both innate (cGAS/STING) and adaptive (T-cell) immune responses.
Preclinical studies have shown that sequential treatment with ateganosine followed by PD-(L)1 inhibitors leads to significant and lasting tumour regression in advanced cancer models by stimulating cancer type–specific immune memory. Ateganosine is currently being developed as a second-line or later treatment option for NSCLC in patients who have not responded to standard checkpoint inhibitor therapies.
Source: businesswire.com
