Inaphaea BioLabs, the wholly owned translational Contract Research Organisation of ValiRx Plc, has announced a series of major initiatives over the past three months that significantly advance its role in translational cancer research, drug discovery, and personalised medicine.
Under the leadership of Mark Eccleston, the recently appointed CEO of parent company ValiRx, both ValiRx and Inaphaea have undergone significant transformations in their business models and internal structures. Over the past year, Mark has delivered operational and cost efficiencies by streamlining processes and creating more focused roles within the two companies. He has also refined asset valuations and improved asset deployment within Inaphaea.
From new licensing agreements and strategic collaborations to the development of advanced tumour models and digital drug discovery platforms, Inaphaea is strengthening its position as a global hub for precision oncology.
Global Expansion of PredictRx® Platform with Dominion Biotech
Inaphaea executed an exclusive licence agreement with Dominion Biotech Ltd for its personalised cancer screening service, PredictRx®. The platform uses patient-derived cells (PDCs) to identify optimal drug combinations for cancer patients, offering a step-change in precision oncology.
Under the agreement, Inaphaea will receive 50% of global net revenues from the service, with both parties’ sharing ownership of new PDCs developed. Dominion has now launched commercialisation efforts, with first revenues expected in Q4 2025.
Driving Oncology Asset Development with Stingray Bio
Building on a successful evaluation programme, Inaphaea has entered a new 12-month collaboration with Stingray Bio Limited to refine kinase-targeting oncology drug candidates. The project leverages Inaphaea’s expertise in New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), combining in-silico optimisation with in-vitro PDC assays to accelerate drug discovery while reducing reliance on animal testing.
Advancing 3D Tumour Analytics with The Open University
Inaphaea has been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Voucher (KTV) by The Open University to enhance analysis of 3D tumour models through advanced imaging and machine learning. The project will run from August 2025 to September 2026 and aims to deliver predictive tools for drug testing in cancers of high unmet need, including triple-negative breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers.
Supporting Blue Ribbon Bio in Prostate Cancer Therapeutics
Inaphaea is playing a central role in the development of Blue Ribbon Bio Ltd, a new ValiRx subsidiary dedicated to prostate cancer. Initial efforts focus on developing the next generation to the Val201 therapeutic peptide, which has demonstrated potential in overcoming resistance to hormone therapies. Inaphaea will provide critical support through patient-derived prostate cancer models, advanced 3D culture systems, and translational testing expertise.
Expanding Digital Drug Discovery with TwinEdge Bioscience
In a landmark collaboration with Swiss innovator TwinEdge Bioscience, Inaphaea is digitising its PDC models as part of TwinEdge’s drive to create one of the largest populations of digital patient avatars. These avatars will enable in-silico drug testing at scale, supporting biomarker discovery, patient stratification, and accelerated clinical trial design.
Growing Cancer Model Pipeline and Screening Success
Through an agreement with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Inaphaea has secured new cancer samples to expand its PDC library, with priority given to ovarian, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Six colorectal PDC models have also been transferred to Cellomatics Ltd for evaluation.
In partnership with Dominion, Inaphaea’s 3K Screen Programme has identified circa 250 promising drug repositioning candidates across five cancer models. A top panel of 10 molecules has been advanced for detailed testing, with results feeding into TwinEdge’s digital twin platform for virtual clinical trial modelling and partnering discussions.
A Growing Translational Oncology Hub
Mark Eccleston, CEO of ValiRx, comments:
“Inaphaea BioLabs has made tremendous progress in the last few months, building partnerships, expanding capabilities, and advancing both service provision and in-house programmes. From our PredictRx collaboration with Dominion to our digital patient avatar project with TwinEdge, we are combining the power of patient-derived models, advanced analytics, and AI-driven insights to accelerate translational drug development. These initiatives demonstrate the strength of our hybrid business model, enabling us to generate near-term revenue, build long-term value, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.”