GRANT: Aptadel Therapeutics (España) - $500,000

In our steadfast approach to targeting the EWS::FLI1 fusion— the primary driver of Ewing sarcoma—Little Warrior Foundation has awarded its first international grant: $500,000 to Aptadel Therapeutics (Spain) to advance preclinical development of one of their lead candidate therapeutics, ADEL-101.

ADEL-101 is an aptamer-based drug conjugate (ApDC) a two-pronged therapeutic designed for precision targeting and tumor cell destruction. Drug conjugates work by combining a "homing" mechanism with a toxic payload. In ADEL-101, the homing mechanism is an RNA-based aptamer that recognizes and binds specifically to tumor cells overexpressing epHA2, a marker often found on Ewing sarcoma cells.

Once attached to its target, ADEL-101 delivers a powerful payload: a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specifically designed to silence the EWSR1::FLI1 (type 1) fusion gene, the critical oncogenic driver in most cases of Ewing sarcoma. By shutting down this fusion gene, ADEL-101 aims to kill the tumor cells at their source.

This grant will support key preclinical studies, including testing different dosing strategies and combination regimens, and evaluating the in vivo efficacy of ADEL-101. The ultimate goal is to generate the necessary preclinical data to enter into Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling discussions, bringing this promising therapy one step closer to clinical trials.

We are excited to partner with Aptadel Therapeutics in this innovative effort—and even more determined to forge every possible path toward a cure.