Earlier this month, ValiRx Plc, a life science company focused on early-stage cancer therapeutics and women’s health, announced a new 12-month agreement with Stingray Bio Limited (“Stingray”), placing its wholly owned subsidiary, Inaphaea BioLabs, at the centre of a hybrid evaluation and development programme for promising oncology drug candidates.
The agreement builds on Inaphaea’s extensive work during the initial 12-month evaluation programme announced on 10 November 2023. That programme assessed a lead series of kinase-targeting molecules developed by Stingray using target-based drug design. Inaphaea applied its patient-derived cell models to investigate anti-cancer activity across a range of cancer types, while partners assessed specificity and safety.
Although the original programme generated significant scientific insights, the data did not meet ValiRx’s strict in-licensing criteria. However, the results identified opportunities for further refinement, a process that will now be spearheaded by Inaphaea in the next phase.
Harnessing Inaphaea’s ‘New Approach Methodology’ Expertise
In the new 12-month programme, Inaphaea will combine in-silico lead optimisation for potency and target selectivity with in-vitro assays on lead compounds identified in the earlier evaluation. The approach leverages Inaphaea’s expanding New Approach Methodology (NAM) capabilities, promoted by the FDA as a viable alternative to animal testing, alongside its network of collaborative partners offering complementary specialist services.
Key details of the agreement include:
- Duration: 12 months, with potential for earlier completion
- Investment: Outsourced activities capped at £56,000; Inaphaea resource £44,000
- Joint Ownership: Evaluation results shared between ValiRx and Stingray
- Licensing Pathway: Option for ValiRx to license technology into a jointly owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), increasing ownership to 75% upon completion of IND-enabling studies
- Alternative Outcome: If ValiRx does not license and Stingray secures other investment within 12 months, ValiRx receives 1.5x its total investment (£150,000) and all evaluation results will transfer to Stingray
Mark Eccleston, CEO of ValiRx, commented:
“This new programme gives Inaphaea BioLabs the opportunity to showcase its strength in applying advanced in-silico and in-vitro methodologies to accelerate drug development. Our hybrid model allows us to de-risk early-stage innovation while retaining upside potential. Inaphaea’s capabilities, from NAM technologies to integrated partner services, are central to our ability to progress promising oncology assets with speed and precision.”
Sunil Shah, Director of Stingray Bio, added:
“We’re delighted to see Inaphaea BioLabs leading the next stage of this programme. Their expertise in cutting-edge evaluation methodologies and their focus on women’s health oncology make them an ideal partner. This collaboration will strengthen the pathway for our novel compounds toward clinical readiness.”
A short video update from CEO Mark Eccleston is available here.