Onco-Innovations has entered into a research agreement with the University of Alberta and Cross Cancer Institute to expand preclinical studies of its PNKP inhibitor technology for hard-to-treat cancers, beginning with glioblastoma multiforme.
The study will focus on evaluating the therapeutic potential of the company's second-generation nanoparticle formulation of PNKP inhibitors against GBM, which accounts for approximately 50% of all primary malignant brain tumors and affects over 200,000 individuals worldwide annually.
Research will be led by Dr. Michael Weinfeld, the original discoverer of the PNKP inhibitor technology, with the preclinical program scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025.
Key investigation areas will include pharmacological characteristics, DNA damage enhancement in tumor models, effects on normal brain tissue, and potential combination strategies with standard-of-care therapies.