08:37 AM EDT, 08/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Viracta Therapeutics ( VIRX ) said Wednesday that new data from a phase 2 trial evaluating drug combination Nana-val showed robust antitumor activity in a second-line subgroup, which it will focus based on feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration for potential approval.

Nana-val is a combination of nanatinostat, a selective treatment for Epstein-Barr virus, and antiviral medication valganciclovir. Viracta is investigating Nana-val for the treatment of EBV-associated malignancies.

The second-line subgroup of the phase 2 trial showed overall response rates of at least 60% and complete response rates of over 30% in both populations. Viracta said it will focus its primary analysis on this subgroup for the ongoing trial.

The company also plans to begin a new randomized controlled trial of Nana-val in the second-line subgroup in 2025, saying this strategy will give way for accelerated approval after filing in 2026.

Shares of Viracta rose more than 27% in recent premarket activity Wednesday.

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