Newly-launched Nodus Oncology acquires Basilea's PARG inhibitor program

Nodus Oncology has announced the completion of an asset purchase agreement (APA) for Basilea Pharmaceutica’s (SIX: BSLN) novel poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) inhibitor discovery program.

The Scottish company, which only launched this month, has secured worldwide development and commercialization rights to the program, which is currently at the discovery stage. It has the potential to be a best-in-class treatment for molecularly-defined patient sub-groups, with PARG being a key enzyme in the repair of DNA damage and essential for tumor cells to grow.

Development activities will be transferred from the Swiss drugmaker to Nodus' drug discovery partner, the Lead Discovery Center (LDC), to accelerate clinical candidate selection. LDC takes on promising early-stage projects from academic bodies and transforms them into innovative pharmaceutical leads and antibodies that reach initial proof-of-concept in in vivo models, as well as candidate nomination.