Kuano makes significant strides towards novel bowel cancer therapy

Kuano is pleased to announce the successful completion of their Innovate UK funded project “Streamlined and Targeted Design of NOTUM Inhibitors as Colorectal Cancer Drugs”. 

This work delivered in-vivo efficacy data for compounds designed using their computational platform. Launched in December 2022, the programme exceeded initial goals to demonstrate efficacy in cellular assays and validated the ability of Kuano’s combination of quantum simulation and artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery. These results provide the basis for the company to develop the lead molecule,  further to provide a first in class drug addressing the challenge of treatment resistance in colorectal cancer. 

The project funding not only allowed the development of novel drug candidates but the enhancement of the computational platform used to produce them. Kuano’s “Quantum Pharmacophore” provides unique insights into how molecules bind to target enzymes, enabling the identification of potential drug molecules in new areas of chemical space and facilitating their rapid refinement. Use of this approach enables Kuano to identify a lead molecule capable of reducing tumour size in less than 200 molecules, more than an order of magnitude more efficient than conventional approaches.

Molecules designed in-silico by the platform were tested in-vitro using a bespoke assay cascade developed during the project. The most advanced compound was as effective as a highly toxic chemotherapy agent (cisplatin) at killing bowel cancer cells, but had a much improved safety profile for healthy cells. This success provided us with the confidence to test the compound in mouse models (a cell derived xenograft). The data produced showed our compound is tolerated at high doses and reduced tumour size. To enable further development of the compound, and identification of the patient populations most likely to benefit, Kuano is planning further experiments (including organoid studies) starting in August 2024.

Vid Stojevic, CEO of Kuano Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm for the project’s progress: 

“This project provides the first evidence that our vision for quantum informed drug design can provide transformational impacts by tailoring chemistry to meet the needs of specific targets. Ultimately this will enable us to develop a new generation of drugs to save and improve the lives of patients with hard to treat cancers.”

Chris Sawyer, Innovation Lead, Digital Health at Innovate UK, added: 

“Innovate UK is delighted to be able to support innovative projects like Kuano’s that is designed to meet the needs of patients with major diseases like bowel cancer.”