In vivo testing has validated Oxford Drug Design’s potential first-in-class approach against multiple tumours, designed using its AI platform.

The results of a 28-day mouse trial showed clear efficacy as well as dose response.

The company’s approach is based on a novel target, leucyl-tRNA synthetase, belonging to the tRNA synthetase enzyme family.

The new data demonstrates the potential of the molecules to modulate the function of tRNA synthetases as a new approach to cancer.

This is Oxford Drug Design’s second first-in-class therapeutic programme achieving in vivo validation.

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 company has also appointed Professor Sarah Blagden to its 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).

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.”

Diana Spencer, Senior Digital Content Editor, DDW