Novel Oncology Therapeutic Mechanism Passes In Vivo Validation
Oxford Drug Design, the Oxford-based AI drug discovery company applying its pioneering AI platform to develop novel molecules for use in cancer treatments, has successfully completed the first in vivo validation in its potential first-in-class approach against multiple tumours. The results of a 28-day mouse trial showed clear efficacy as well as dose response.
The innovative approach is based on a novel target, leucyl-tRNA synthetase, belonging to the tRNA synthetase enzyme family on which Oxford Drug Design has developed a leading expertise. The new data demonstrates the potential of the Company’s innovative proprietary molecules to modulate the function of tRNA synthetases as a novel approach to cancer.
The highly innovative lead candidates are part of the Company’s extensive portfolio of proprietary novel chemical scaffolds which have shown broad activity against the non-canonical functions of the enzyme class.
Oxford Drug Design’s rapid advances have been enabled by its distinctive dual-competence discovery platform integrating its pioneering generative AI capabilities with tRNA synthetase expertise, including proprietary structural biology.
This is the Company’s second first-in-class therapeutic program achieving clear in vivo validation based on this discovery platform. Further, equally efficient expansions of this differentiated capability are already planned to other diseases areas with unmet need.
Dr Paul Finn, CSO of Oxford Drug Design, said: “Our leading integrated expertise in generative AI and tRNA-synthetase drug discovery continues to produce breakthrough novel lead series efficiently and effectively, of which the progress in our oncology programme is the latest example. Our rapidly advancing efforts are now focused on bringing this potentially superior first-in-class treatment into the clinic”.
The experimental advances coincide with the announcement of Professor Sarah Blagden joining Oxford Drug Design’s Scientific Advisory Board
Prof. Blagden is a clinician-scientist and Professor of Experimental Oncology at the University of Oxford. She has over 20 years of experience in clinical cancer drug development, having directed Oxford’s Early Phase Trials Unit and now as Director of Oxford’s Oncology Cancer Trials Office (OCTO) which recently joined the Cancer Research UK trials network as the UK’s first dedicated center for conducting Precision-Prevention and Early Detection trials.
From her clinical background as a Medical Oncologist, she was Oxford’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) lead.
Prof. Blagden has contributed to approximately 100 peer review publications, many exploring trial methodologies. Her research focuses on post-transcriptional gene dysregulation in cancer and was the first to clone the human RNA binding protein LARP1 as well as to describe its function in cancer.
She received a BSc in pharmacology and her medical degree (MBBS) from the University of London, a PhD from University of Cambridge and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. In addition, Sarah is the founder of RNA Guardian Ltd, a biomarker discovery company.
Prof. Blagden said: “I am delighted to be joining Oxford Drug Design at this exciting stage of their progress. Their highly innovative approach involving both novel targets as well as new, original chemical scaffolds have the potential to have a powerful impact on the treatment of cancers where existing treatments have serious drawbacks.
“With this double innovation, the team at Oxford Drug Design have a remarkable opportunity to be at the forefront of oncology drug discovery research.”
Dr Alan D. Roth, CEO of Oxford Drug Design, added: “Prof. Blagden is a recognized leader in the field of experimental cancer therapeutics and brings this deep expertise to our team at the ideal point of our rapid development.
“Her scientific contributions in early cancer trials have revolutionised the field over many years of oncology drug development experience that will now be invaluable to Oxford dug Design’s growth plans in the field”.
