Pre-clinical ‘de-risking’ of self-assembling cryptate compounds as putative anti-cancer agents

The proposed activities are aimed at providing critical information on our most promising ‘lead’ putative anti-cancer compounds that would significantly decrease investment risk for a potential investor if the outcomes from these tests are favourable. These tests have been requested as a minimum by our external partner Pleco Therapeutics in order for them to be able to commit to the project and for follow-on funding from them which will help to facilitate the potential exploitation/progression of these compounds towards the clinic and the patient (please see Letter of Support from Pleco Therapeutics).

Whilst the data we have obtained on our novel compounds is extremely encouraging, we are at a very early stage in the drug discovery and development process with a lot of ‘unknowns’ and substantial risks for a potential investor. The activities that will be undertaken are focused on trying to overcome the current major barriers for progression of the academic team’s inventions and their potential commercial exploitation. An international PCT patent application PCT/GB2021/052070 was filed on 10/08/21. Discussions are currently in progress as the deadline for national patent filing approaches as to what countries/regions we want to file patent applications. In due course it is likely that the patent portfolio may also require expanding for some non-disclosed ‘lead’ compounds that have since emerged as well as potentially further IP strengthening to maximise commercial protection. Pleco Therapeutics have indicated that they would like to work with Huddersfield on these IP aspects and are part of current discussions as our development partner as to where to prioritise filing.