Qualigen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: QLGN) has announced an exclusive global in-license of genomic quadruplex (G4) selective transcription inhibitor development program that includes preclinical data, lead, and backup substances, and a patent estate for University College of London.
Qualigen developing QN-302 for PDAC treatment
The lead molecule, currently known as QN-302, is being developed by the company as a potential pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treatment, which accounts for a significant proportion of pancreatic malignancies. UCL Business Limited, the university’s commercialization company, handled this license arrangement.
Chief Executive Officer of Qualigen Michael Poirier commented, “QN-302 is a promising candidate with a novel mechanism of action, supported by preclinical data from one of the leading pharmacology institutions in the world. This program aligns with our oncology-focused therapeutics pipeline, expands our IP portfolio, and positions Qualigen well in this exciting area of G4 cancer research.”
The scientific work done at UCL on the G4 platform may allow Qualigen to move forward with IND-enabling trials in 2022 in order to get the first indication for pancreatic cancer.
QN-302 binds to G4 to prevent its structure from unwinding
QN-302, a tiny chemical that targets areas of malignancy genes with a relatively large number of G4s, was backed by the UCL Technology Fund and, in early days, partly by Cancer Research UK funding. According to preclinical studies, QN-302 specifically binds to G4s, generating a combination that stops the G4 structure from “unwinding” at the cancerous cells’ crucial regulatory areas. QN-302 inhibits transcription by blocking such “unwinding.”
The product candidate has shown anti-tumor effects in a variety of tumor forms, as well as in vivo PDAC models, through this pathway, with no toxicity at therapeutic levels. Furthermore, studies suggest that anti-tumor action against gemcitabine-resistant tumors could be beneficial.
Treatment alternatives for pancreatic cancer are few, and this cancer form has one of the worst survival rates of any cancer kind, with one in four people dying within a month of diagnosis. As a result, QN-302 may be a candidate for Orphan Drug Designation in the future, which could provide significant regulatory and financial benefits.
