Onco-Innovations Ltd. (CBOE CA: ONCO) (OTCQB: ONNVF) is advancing a novel approach to treat hard-to-cancers by developing inhibitors of Polynucleotide Kinase Phosphatase (PNKP), a key enzyme in DNA repair. The company recently announced a significant manufacturing milestone: the successful scale-up of the active pharmaceutical ingredient for its lead drug candidate, ONC010, to kilogram-scale production. This advancement is critical for moving toward clinical trials and eventual commercialization.
Cancers often have defective DNA repair mechanisms, leading to mutations that drive uncontrolled growth and metastasis. Conventional therapies like radiation and certain chemotherapies exploit this weakness by causing further DNA damage, overwhelming the cancer's limited repair capacity. However, some tumors retain sufficient repair ability to resist these treatments at tolerable doses. Onco-Innovations aims to address this resistance by specifically inhibiting PNKP, an enzyme that repairs DNA damage, thereby sensitizing cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents.
The company has also signed a Letter of Intent with Nanosoft Polymers to support polymer development, drug delivery optimization, and formulation work for ONC010. This collaboration is expected to enhance the therapeutic potential of the drug candidate by improving its stability and targeted delivery to tumor cells.
Onco-Innovations is positioning itself in the rapidly evolving field of DNA Damage Response (DDR) therapies, which has gained significant attention in oncology. DDR inhibitors, including those targeting PNKP, represent a promising strategy to overcome treatment resistance. The company's progress in manufacturing and formulation development underscores its commitment to advancing this novel class of therapies.
For more information about Onco-Innovations and its pipeline, visit the company's newsroom at ibn.fm/ONNVF.
