iOnctura

iOnctura is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing selective cancer therapies that target critical tumor survival pathways. It is using data-driven precision oncology methods to design combination treatments that overcome resistance pathways. This approach understands and disrupts the fibrotic processes that sustain tumor growth and progression in oncology.

As at August 2023, iOnctura had four drug candidates in its pipeline: 

1) IOA-244, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3Kδ) inhibitor to treat solid tumors and hematological malignancies, which was in Phase Ib/II clinical trials, 

2) IOA-289, an autotaxin inhibitor to treat patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, which was in Phase IB/II clinical trials, 

3) IOA-359 , a novel oral TGF-β pathway inhibitor to treat selected solid tumors, which was undergoing preclinical preparations, and 

4) IOA-237, a CD73 inhibitor to treat selected solid tumors, which was in the preclinical stage. 

Key Customers and Partnerships

Since 2017, the company has partnered with Merck and Cancer Research Technology to develop its pipeline of assets. Furthermore, the company partnered with Cancer Research UK’s Therapeutic Discovery Labs in 2017 to develop the autotaxin inhibitor (IOA-289) In May 2023, the company partnered with Clavius Pharmaceuticals to obtain global development and commercialization of IOA-359. 

Funding and Financials

Launched in 2017, the company is a spin-out from the Merck group. In May 2023, the company received a grant for an undisclosed amount from Health Holland and KWF (Dutch Cancer Society) in collaboration with the University of Twente. The funds received were used toward the development of IOA-359 and the characterization of resistance mechanisms.