Cure51, a techbio company focused on identifying the biological mechanisms behind exceptional cancer survival, has launched the UK phase of its Rosalind study. The study, already underway in other parts of Europe, is now approved by the NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) and will be conducted in collaboration with Cambridge University Hospitals and seven other leading UK institutions.
The Rosalind study will focus on three aggressive cancer types: extensive stage small cell lung cancer, brain cancer glioblastoma, and metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Researchers plan to collect tumor samples from over 1,000 exceptional responder patients, defined as those in the top 3% for survival in these indications, to identify the biological factors that contribute to their extended survival.
Identifying Novel Therapeutic Targets
Cure51 has developed a multi-layered data hub to analyze the biological features of these cancer super-survivors, with the goal of discovering novel therapeutic targets for potentially transformative new treatments. The company aims to reverse engineer the cure for cancer by leveraging technology, data, and a dedicated team of computational biologists.
Nicolas Wolikow, CEO and Co-Founder of Cure51, stated, "This is a pivotal step in the Rosalind study, as our first and largest partnership in the UK, advancing our mission to identify what sets cancer survivors apart. This work is made possible due to the support of the eight leading UK hospitals and institutions, all united in the goal of defeating cancer."
Addressing a Critical Unmet Need
With nearly 400,000 new cancer diagnoses annually in the UK, understanding why some patients achieve remarkable survival is critical. Dr. Thankammah Ajithkummar, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, noted, "Patients who appear superficially similar in terms of their age and health, and the type and stage of their cancer, can have remarkably different responses to the same treatment. The Rosalind study represents a promising new approach to investigating the biology of cancer survivors, aiming to uncover insights that could improve outcomes for all patients."
Simon Istolainen, Chief Strategy & Scientific Network Officer and Co-Founder of Cure51, added, "At Cure51, we are reverse engineering the cure for cancer... We aim to uncover the hidden biology of miraculous survivors, to develop therapies that could one day make cancer a manageable disease for all."
Cure51 raised €15 million in Seed funding in March 2024, led by Sofinnova Partners. In October 2024, the company partnered with 10xGenomics to deploy its Visium HD precision technology, aiming to transform cancer diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately, the path to a cure.
