Iterion Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Osteosarcoma Trial

Tegavivint, a first-in-class Wnt/β-Catenin inhibitor, shows promise in treating relapsed and refractory osteosarcoma.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Iterion Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has dosed the first patient in a clinical study evaluating tegavivint in combination with gemcitabine for relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma, the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, often sees poor outcomes upon relapse. Tegavivint is a small-molecule inhibitor targeting TBL1, a crucial transcriptional co-factor for oncogenic β-catenin signaling, with the aim of promoting the degradation of nuclear β-catenin and suppressing tumor growth.

Why it matters

This trial marks a significant step forward in addressing a rare pediatric cancer with limited treatment options. Tegavivint represents a novel approach to targeting one of the central biological drivers of osteosarcoma, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which has been linked to tumor progression, treatment resistance, and the spread of cancer.

The details

The clinical trial is being sponsored by Emory University and conducted at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. It's supported by funding from the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund, demonstrating a strong commitment from academic, clinical, and philanthropic organizations to advance new therapies for pediatric cancer. Tegavivint has already shown promising results in clinical trials for hepatocellular carcinoma and desmoid tumors, both cancers driven by aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

  • The first patient has been dosed in the clinical study as of February 10, 2026.

The players

Iterion Therapeutics

A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel approach to targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in osteosarcoma and other cancers.

Tegavivint

A small-molecule inhibitor developed by Iterion Therapeutics that targets TBL1, a crucial transcriptional co-factor for oncogenic β-catenin signaling, with the aim of promoting the degradation of nuclear β-catenin and suppressing tumor growth.

Emory University

The sponsor of the clinical trial evaluating tegavivint in combination with gemcitabine for relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma.

Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

The location where the clinical trial is being conducted.

Peach Bowl LegACy Fund

A philanthropic organization providing funding support for the clinical trial, demonstrating a commitment to advancing new therapies for pediatric cancer.

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What they’re saying

“Tegavivint represents a novel approach to targeting one of the central biological drivers of osteosarcoma.”

— Rahul Aras, President and CEO of Iterion Therapeutics

“Tegavivint is uniquely positioned for osteosarcoma because it targets a pathway that is consistently active in high-risk and relapsed disease. Evaluating tegavivint in combination with gemcitabine allows us to build on a strong scientific foundation as we seek to improve outcomes for patients with limited treatment options.”

— Thomas Cash, Principal Investigator of the study at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University

What’s next

The success of this trial could open doors for exploring tegavivint in other Wnt-driven cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), a market representing a multi-billion-dollar opportunity. Iterion is actively pursuing expansion opportunities in these areas.

The takeaway

Iterion Therapeutics' work with tegavivint highlights a growing trend in cancer research: targeting downstream effects of signaling pathways rather than the pathways themselves. This approach can minimize off-target effects and improve tolerability, as demonstrated by tegavivint's clinical profile, making it a promising new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma.