10172987Targeted Chemotherapies for Glioblastoma Using Tumour-Specific ActivationClosedFast Start ResponseInnovate UKGlioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and deadly brain cancer with very limited treatment options and a median survival of just 12-15 months. Current therapies struggle because the tumour invades critical brain areas, the blood-brain barrier restricts drug delivery, and healthy brain tissue is highly sensitive to toxic chemotherapy. As a result, there has been little progress in effective GBM treatments for over two decades. Our project aims to revolutionise GBM treatment by developing novel targeted chemotherapies that remain inactive as they circulate through the body but activate selectively within the tumour itself. This innovative approach exploits the unique microenvironment of the tumour and enables delivery of higher drug doses directly to cancer cells while minimising harmful side effects to healthy tissue. Using proprietary technology licensed from Imperial College London, we design these molecules directly using human patient GBM tissue samples, ensuring high clinical relevance and enhancing the likelihood of successful translation into human patients. Our designed tumour-selective molecules can be integrated into multiple types of therapeutic, including antibody-drug conjugates or other modalities with proven blood-brain barrier crossing. Our innovation has strong commercial potential. GBM incidence is increasing globally, and despite its severity, effective treatments remain scarce. By developing selective therapies that overcome the blood-brain barrier and reduce systemic toxicity, we aim to address this significant unmet medical and societal need.