Ryvu Therapeutics is showcasing promising preclinical data from its synthetic lethality pipeline at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago, highlighting significant advancements in novel cancer therapeutics.
The Polish clinical-stage drug discovery and development company is presenting data on two key programs: RVU305, a potentially best-in-class PRMT5 inhibitor, and novel synthetic lethal targets for colorectal cancer identified through its proprietary ONCO Prime platform.
RVU305: Brain-Permeable PRMT5 Inhibitor Shows Promise in MTAP-Deleted Cancers
RVU305, Ryvu's MTA-cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor, has demonstrated significant potential in targeting MTAP-deleted cancers in preclinical studies. The compound effectively inhibited tumor growth in MTAP-null cancer models while sparing normal cells, suggesting a favorable therapeutic window.
Notably, RVU305 has shown brain penetration with predicted efficacious exposure in the brain of cynomolgus monkeys, potentially addressing an important unmet need for patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In CNS cell lines, the compound exhibited high potency and efficacy.
"RVU305 effectively inhibited tumor growth in MTAP-null cancer models without affecting normal cells," said Krzysztof Brzózka, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Ryvu Therapeutics. "The compound also demonstrated CNS penetration with predicted efficacious exposure in the brain in cynomolgus monkeys."
The data presented at AACR also revealed that co-treatment with an anti-PD-1 antibody was well tolerated and resulted in enhanced antitumor activity in an MTAP-deleted model resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. These effects were supported by pharmacodynamic changes observed in tumor tissue, positioning RVU305 as a promising therapeutic option for patients with MTAP-deleted cancers who are resistant to current immunotherapies.
IND/CTA-enabling studies for RVU305 are on track for completion in the second half of 2025, according to the company.
Novel Synthetic Lethal Targets for Colorectal Cancer
Ryvu's second presentation at AACR focuses on the discovery and validation of novel therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer (CRC) through synthetic lethal interactions, addressing the urgent need for more effective and personalized treatment options.
Using advanced models, including genetically engineered human intestinal stem cells (hISCs) and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) in combination with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, the team identified key vulnerabilities in CRC cells.
Genome-wide synthetic lethal screens revealed targets associated with common CRC driver mutations, particularly in APC and KRAS genes. These findings were robustly validated, with knock-out of the identified targets selectively killing mutant patient-derived cells while sparing healthy intestinal stem cells.
"Our proprietary ONCO Prime platform has identified several novel synthetic lethal targets, including targets for KRAS-driven tumors, which offer immense potential to transform cancer treatment," Brzózka explained.
The research team has also identified small-molecule inhibitors that block the activity of these newly discovered targets. These compounds modulate downstream biomarkers and replicate the differential effects observed in genetic studies, supporting the translational potential of this approach.
Expanding into Next-Generation ADC Payloads
Beyond the AACR presentations, Ryvu will also showcase its work on next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) at the 2nd ADC Payload Summit in Boston, May 6-8, 2025.
Dr. Brzózka will give an oral presentation titled "Exploring Next-Generation Payload Diversity Beyond Cytotoxics to Diversify Immune-oncology MOAs," highlighting the company's innovative approach to expanding the diversity of payloads in ADCs.
The presentation will discuss Ryvu's strategy for identifying new small-molecule payloads with conjugation potential and how matching target biology with appropriate payloads can optimize therapeutic outcomes.
Comprehensive Oncology Pipeline
Ryvu's preclinical programs complement its more advanced clinical assets, including RVU120, a selective CDK8/CDK19 kinase inhibitor currently in Phase II development for hematological malignancies, and dapolsertib (MEN1703, SEL24), a dual PIM/FLT3 kinase inhibitor licensed to the Menarini Group that is being investigated in a Phase II study for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
The company maintains oncology collaborations with BioNTech and Exelixis, further strengthening its position in the competitive oncology landscape.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Kraków, Poland, Ryvu Therapeutics is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and continues to advance its diverse pipeline of oncology therapeutics targeting emerging mechanisms in cancer biology.
Market Implications
The advancements in Ryvu's synthetic lethality pipeline could position the company favorably in the growing precision oncology market. Synthetic lethality—exploiting genetic vulnerabilities unique to cancer cells—represents a promising approach for developing more targeted and potentially less toxic cancer therapies.
With the global precision oncology market projected to grow significantly in the coming years, Ryvu's progress with RVU305 and its ONCO Prime platform could attract attention from potential partners and investors seeking novel oncology assets with differentiated mechanisms of action.
