ONCODRUG
Our Science
Oncodrug R&D focuses on underexplored targets of medical importance, with multiple drug discovery assets ranging from small molecules to biologics.
R&D PORTFOLIO
Our Pipeline
Our best-in-class small molecule inhibitors are orally available and have excellent biochemical (potency, selectivity) and pharmacokinetic profiles:
Our viral immunotherapy (VI) targets cancers with a unique combination of mechanisms of action.
Chemical matter covering multiple different series derisks the projects and is well-protected by Oncodrug’s patent portfolio.
Our projects strategically focus on therapeutic areas of high unmet needs:
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FIBROSIS & ONCOLOGY
Lysyl Oxidase (LOX) Inhibitors
Oncodrug is discovering oral, best-in-class LOX inhibitors as a pioneering treatment for multiple fibrosis indications including liver fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and myelofibrosis. The antifibrotic nature of these inhibitors can also improve the effectiveness of current cancer treatments.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling – LOX catalyses the crosslinking of collagen and elastin.
Key driver of fibrosis – crosslinked collagen is harder to degrade.
Tumour microenvironment (TME) remodelling – can promote cancer growth and seed metastasis.
Drug delivery barrier – some cancers are highly fibrotic. This fibrotic barrier reduces the effectiveness of chemo-, targeted-, immuno- and radiotherapy.
Springer et. al. – J. Med. Chem. 2020, 63(5), 2308.
Springer et. al. – J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62(12), 5863.
Marais et. al. – Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 14909.
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Diabetes & Oncology
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1A3 (ALDH1A3) Inhibitors
Oncodrug is discovering selective, oral, best-in-class ALDH1A3 inhibitors as a pioneering treatment in type II diabetes, to restore normal pancreatic cell function, and in oncology to overcome resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy and reduce metastasis.
Enzyme in nuclear receptor/transcription factor pathway
Drives pancreatic β-cell failure in type II diabetes
Key role in cancer immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy
Highly expressed in cancer stem cells that drive resistance, recurrence and metastasis
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Cardiology & Oncology
Protein Kinase N2 (PKN2) Inhibitors
Oncodrug is discovering selective, oral, first-in-class Protein Kinase N2 as a pioneering treatment in oncology to overcome resistance to targeted therapies, particularly RAS inhibitors, and in cardiology to prevent heart failure through the mitigation of myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy.
A novel target validated independently in the literature
Promotes cancer resistance
Promotes myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy, major drivers of heart failure
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Ref 1) M. Takefuji et al, Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 7638.
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Ref 2) K. Wood et al, Cancer Discov. 2025, 15(3):595.
Oncology
Viral Immunotherapy (VI)
Oncodrug is discovering a novel tumour selective, oncolytic vaccinia virus (OVV) expressing an immunogenic enzyme (CPG2) able to activate a prodrug, for the treatment of a variety of solid tumours.
Our viral immunotherapy is deploying multiple mechanism of actions for enhanced tumour eradication:
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