Exploiting Tumour Hypoxia in Precision Medicine: Advancing Novel Prodrug Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer with a World-leading Canadian Cancer Centre

The effectiveness of cancer therapy can be limited by barriers to drug penetration at the tumour and the

harbouring of drug-resistant cells in poorly oxygenated or "hypoxic" tumour regions - these becoming

sources of spread. The UK company Oncotherics has developed non-toxic drugs that are designed to

penetrate into these difficult to treat regions, sense the low levels of oxygen and “activate” to kill the

problematic cancer cells. The challenge is highlighted by the treament resistance of pancreatic cancer with

only 1 in every 100 patients in England & Wales surviving their disease for more than 10 years with little

improvment since the 1970s. Our key innovation is to link with a world-leading Cancer Centre in Canada

to approach a clincal trial that exploits a ground-breaking imaging technology that will allow us to identify

pancreatic cancer patients with hypoxic tumours for this targeted drug therapy. Funding will accelerate

this link with PMCC , increase the prospects for investor interest with entry into a $1.7bn global market,

provide a route to regulatory approval and clinical adoption in cancer centres both in the UK & globally.