OncoTherics wins RESI Innovation Challenge competition

OncoTherics has won an International Innovation Challenge competition, and a chance to "pitch" at the upcoming RESI Investor conference this April, to be held at the MaRS Centre, Toronto.

Stefan Ogrodzinski (CEO OncoTherics) said; "We are thrilled to have won this competition and the chance to speak to Investors at the RESI conference in Toronto"

OncoTherics goal is to develop new drugs that target areas of the tumour that conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy cannot reach. Specifically our interests concern the biology of hypoxic tumour microenvironments and the role these microenvironments play in the resistance and spread of a variety of cancers. Our solution is to target the hypoxic microenvironment with a new class of pro-drugs, that are able to penetrate the whole tumour including the difficult to reach hypoxic regions.

We have demonstrated in a variety of tumours containing difficult to reach hypoxic cancer cells, that our prodrugs are irreversibly metabolised to highly effective and persistent TOPO II inhibitors. The unique combination of high penetration, irreversible conversion and persistance of the resultant TOPO II inhibitor, sets our drugs apart from the competition. Applications include a wide spectrum of cancers, but particularly very hypoxic tumours, like pancreatic cancer, prostate and glioblastoma.

OncoTherics signs MoU with University Health Network (UHN), Toronto

OncoTherics and University Health Network (UHN), Toronto have signed a memorandum of understanding to progress the development of the company's novel hypoxia-activated cancer drugs at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PMCC) - a world class facility for the detection of tumour hypoxia and the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

OncoTherics and UHN sign MoU. Left to right are Bharti Ranawaya (BDM, UHN), Mark Taylor (Director of Commercialisation, UHN), Stefan Ogrodzinski (CEO OncoTherics), John Reid (Director TD&C, UHN) and Laurence Patterson (Chair, SAB OncoTherics).

Stefan Ogrodzinski (CEO, OncoTherics) said "This is an exciting development for OncoTherics. There is an excellent alignment of interests between the company's novel hypoxia activated prodrug technology and PMCC's expertise in the detection of tumour hypoxia."

OncoTherics wins Innovate UK Global Feasibility Study Award

OncoTherics wins Innovate UK Global Feasibility Study Award. Project Title: Exploiting Tumour Hypoxia in Precision Medicine:  Advancing Novel Prodrug Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer with PMCC, a World-leading Canadian Cancer Centre.  As part of the award, OncoTherics will work with Alan Boyd Consultancy to explore a regulatory strategy for its novel hypoxia activated pro-drugs.

OCT1002 shows promising results in prostate cancer research

Researchers at Ulster University have just published the latest results of a three-year study looking at OCT1002 in combination with hormone therapy in prostate cancer.

The research programme was supported by Prostate Cancer UK through a £213,000 grant from the Movember Foundation and the latest results have been published in the Journal of Clinical Cancer Research
CLICK HERE to link to the paper.

CLICK HERE to hear Dr Declan McKenna speaking on ITV news about the exciting results.

OncoTherics VOOM's awareness for Pancreatic Cancer!

Over 400 people from around the world have voted for OncoTherics in the VOOM 2016 challenge!

The VOOM 2016 challenge invites small and start-up businesses to canvass votes to qualify for a chance to pitch to Richard Branson.

OncoTherics has used the competition to raise awareness of Pancreatic Cancer and the lack of investment in new therapeutics that can make a difference to overall survival and quality of life.

More thank 10,000 businesses have entered the competition and at the time of writing, OncoTherics  is ranked at number 106 in the Grow category!!

The OncoTherics Team would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all who have voted - your vote has helped raise awareness about Pancreatic Cancer and the real challenges that this disease poses.

Dr Thomas Morris joins OncoTherics as Chief Medical Officer

OncoTherics is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Thomas Morris as the company's new Director and Chief Medical Officer.

Dr Morris has worked in drug development for over 20 years with much of this time specialising in oncology. He joins OncoTherics after a long and successful career at AstraZeneca where he has held a number of senior global R&D roles. Most recently these include Senior Medical Director, Executive Director Clinical Programs and Medical Science Director.

Dr Morris has overseen the clinical development of several global drug programs, interacting with academic groups and regulatory agencies worldwide. He brings a considerable wealth of experience to OncoTherics and will lead the company's clinical trial programme.

OncoTherics signs collaboration agreement with University of Cambridge

OncoTherics has signed a collaboration agreement with the University of Cambridge to progress a series of novel preclinical investigations using OCT1002 in Pancreatic Tumour models.

The investigations will augment OncoTherics formal preclinical studies, providing useful additional information about OCT1002 in Pancreatic Cancer.

OncoTherics signs collaboration agreement with University Health Network, Toronto

OncoTherics has signed a collaboration agreement with cancer researchers at the University Health Network, Toronto.

The investigations will augment OncoTherics formal preclinical studies, providing useful additional information about OCT1002 in Pancreatic Cancer.

Prime Minister stops by OncoTherics exhibition stand

Prime Minister, David Cameron took some time out to visit the Start Up Hub early one morning at the Conservative Party Conference.

Prime Minister David Cameron
talking with Mike Leyland

The photograph shows the Prime Minister taking a keen interest in OncoTherics and the other start-up companies presenting at the hub.

OncoTherics went on to win the best start-up award, as voted for by the delegates at the conference. 

Professor Stephanie McKeown: Awarded Weiss Medal 2013

OncoTherics Director, Professor Stephanie McKeown has been awarded the 2013 Weiss Medal!

Weiss Medallists are nominated by the Chairman of the Association for Radiation Research, after suitable consultations, as having made distinguished contributions to radiation science.

Professor "Joe" Weiss's research projects with Haber in the 1930's are widely-known as landmarks in chemical science. For over twenty-five years he published many distinguished papers in radiation chemistry and was the first radiation chemist to attempt to unravel systematically the complex interaction between biologically important molecules and free radicals produced upon the radiolysis of water. Many of his students and collaborators have since continued this pioneering work and have made distinguished contributions to radiation chemistry and molecular radiobiology themselves.

Professor Stephanie McKeown is the latest recipient of the prestigious Weiss medal. You can read more about the award at the Association for Radiation Research webpages.

Chancellor George Osborne visits OncoTherics Exhibition

The Chancellor George Osborne paid a visit to the OncoTherics exhibition stand at the Conservative conference Start-up hub this week.

The Chancellor was able to hear about OncoTherics' exciting new drug technology OCT1002 and the company's recent tenancy at the BioHub at Alderley Park, Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

The picture above shows the Chancellor and Stefan Ogrodzinski, Director OncoTherics, explaining the importance of hypoxia in cancer relapse and cancer spread.

Read more about the story on the Chancellors website: CLICK HERE

OncoTherics presentation to the 2013 Conservative Party Conference Start-up Hub Competition

As part of the Start-up hub competition at the 2013 Conservative Party conference, competing start-up companies were asked to make a short "elevator pitch" that would be transmitted to the conference audience each day by video.

The video below is the OncoTherics pitch. Enjoy! 

OncoTherics voted BEST START-UP COMPANY at the Conservative Party Conference 2013

OncoTherics has won the title “Best Start-Up Company” at the 2013 Conservative Party Conference. The company was voted the winner by hundreds of delegates at the conference in Manchester.

Delegates were invited to visit the “Start-Up Hub” area of the exhibition hall to meet the founders of twelve new companies from across the UK, before being invited to choose a winner by placing a ball in the corresponding tube of the most impressive company.   

Representatives from OncoTherics also had the opportunity to explain the company's technology and opportunity to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, before being presented with a certificate by the competition organiser Damien Collins MP. OncoTherics also received a tablet computer awarded by competition sponsors, Fujitsu.

OncoTherics has developed a patented drug, which targets the most aggressive cancer cells in tumours by honing in on the hypoxic (low oxygen) characteristics of these cells. The company is currently looking for investors to fund the drug’s development to get it from the laboratory into the hands of clinicians, where it could potentially improve the lives of thousands of cancer patients every year, particularly those with aggressive Pancreatic cancer or Prostate cancer.

The company’s success also highlights that pharmaceutical drug discovery is alive and well in Great Britain, despite the tough economic climate and strong competition on the global pharmaceutical stage.    

Stefan Ogrodzinski, Director of OncoTherics commented:

“This win is a huge boost to the OncoTherics team. Showcasing our company at the Conservative Party Conference gave us a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the company, our exciting new drug technology and the investment opportunity. Our win shows the British public are as passionate about beating the most aggressive cancers as we are.”