Cavrotolimod · AST-008

What is Cavrotolimod?

Cavrotolimod is a spherical nucleic acid-based TLR9 agonist that enters immune cells and activates toll-like receptor 9 within endosomes. It induces Th1-mediated and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses against tumor cells. It is studied in advanced or metastatic melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Summary written with AI from the sources listed at the end of this page.

At a glance

Also known as

AST-008

Drug type

Oligonucleotide

Targets

toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)

Mechanism

Immune activation, directed at toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)

Pathways

immune activation, Th1 response, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response

Therapy area

Oncology

Developer

Exicure, Inc. (XCUR)

FDA status

Investigational, not approved in the US. Most advanced trial: Phase 1/2

UNII

2Z5JOV1PPN

🧪 Clinical trials

Trials of the companies BioRadar tracks, from ClinicalTrials.gov, most advanced phase first.

Conditions studied

Advanced or Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell CarcinomaAdvanced or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaAdvanced or Metastatic MelanomaAdvanced or Metastatic Merkel Cell CarcinomaAdvanced or Metastatic Solid TumorsHealthy Volunteer Study

Other drugs acting on TLR9

Sources

• NCI Thesaurus
• ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03086278
• ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03684785
• ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03684785

Updated Oct 3, 2026. Something wrong or missing? Report it on the XCUR page.