Partnership to investigate Novel Targets in Cancer-associated Fibrosis

Clinical-stage biotechnology company Redx and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research (Australia) are jointly researching possible treatments for increased patient survival in poorly treated, highly fibrotic cancers, such as pancreatic cancer.

Bringing together the Garvan’s research capabilities and leading preclinical cancer models with the UK company’s expertise in proprietary small molecules, the project aim is development of novel targets potentially implicated in cancer-associated fibrosis, such as Porcupine, ROCK2 and Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDR). 

The Garvan currently leads the MoST-P clinical trial programme in conjunction with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, which provides cancer patients with access to targeted therapies matched to the genomic and/or the fibrotic signature of their tumour or tumour environment. RXC004, a Porcupine inhibitor and Redx’s lead oncology product candidate, is being tested against RNF43 mutant pancreatic cancer and preclinical work is ongoing to determine if the patient population may be expanded beyond RNF43 loss of function patients to include a wider fibrotic signature in pancreatic cancer. 

Professor Marina Pajic, Strategic Program Lead for Precision Medicine for Cancer at the Garvan, is expected to present initial data at the Extracellular Matrix (ECM) Congress, Copenhagen, 23-25 June 2022. Further patient-derived data expected later in 2022, will also enhance insight into Wnt-ligand driven tumours, the target patient group for RXC004, currently in Phase 2 development for the treatment of genetically selected pancreatic cancer, genetically selected metastatic colorectal cancer and unselected biliary cancer.

Professor Pajic commented: “We are very pleased to be expanding our partnership with Redx and to be benefitting from its medicinal chemistry expertise to work on a range of molecules under development for these novel targets to discover new therapeutic options for patients with fibrotic cancers, a core area of our research focus.”

Enthusiatic about the collaboration, Dr Caroline Phillips, Head of Oncology at the Alderly Park-based biotech added:” With our focus on fibrosis and oncology and our world-class medicinal chemistry, we are able to contribute a range of molecules from Redx’s differentiated pipeline to further research and develop new targeted therapies for these hard-to-treat conditions.”

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