Onxeo S.A. (CPH:ONXEO) (Paris:ONXEO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced on Thursday the start of its proof-of-concept preclinical phase for its new optimised drug candidate, OX401.

Results of these studies are expected by early Q4 2019.

According to the company, OX401 was designed by capitalising on Onxeo's expertise of oligonucleotides acting as decoy agonists and exhibits original properties. During optimisation, OX401 has demonstrated that it inhibited the DNA damage response by acting on PARP proteins. In parallel, OX401 activated the STING pathway, a recent and promising field of research in immuno-oncology, which makes it amenable to combinations with immuno-oncology agents such as checkpoint inhibitors.

OX401 is the second candidate utilising Onxeo's proprietary platform of decoy agonists, platoon.

A comprehensive patent has been filed for OX401 to protect Onxeo's intellectual property rights on this product, alone and in combination with cancer immunotherapies, until 2039.

Preclinical proof-of-concept results showing OX401 efficacy, alone and in combination with immunotherapy treatments, are expected early in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Onxeo develops oncology drugs targeting tumour DNA-binding functions through unique mechanisms of action in the field of DNA damage response (DDR).