On August 13, 2025 CIT Therapeutics, Inc. (CIT), a biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation small molecule therapies targeting SUMOylation for cancer treatment, reported a strategic partnership with the Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation (IFLI) (Press release, Institute for Follicular Lymphoma Innovation, AUG 13, 2025, View Source [SID1234655218]). As part of this collaboration, IFLI will invest up to $2.5 million to support CIT’s clinical development efforts, particularly in follicular lymphoma.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
CIT is advancing a first-in-class, orally bioavailable small molecule that selectively inhibits the SUMO E1 enzyme through an allosteric covalent mechanism. This novel approach has demonstrated high specificity in proteome-wide analyses, offering a promising therapeutic strategy to both kill cancer cells and stimulate the immune system.
The investment from IFLI will support CIT’s upcoming Phase 1/1b clinical trial of its lead candidate, SB-4826, in patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, including those with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
This partnership underscores IFLI’s commitment to accelerating the development of transformative therapies for follicular lymphoma and related blood cancers. It also highlights CIT’s innovative platform as a potential game-changer in the oncology landscape.
"We are pleased to collaborate with CIT in their mission to improve outcomes for patients with follicular lymphoma," said Dave McCullagh, Managing Director of IFLI.
"This partnership represents a significant step forward in bringing SUMOylation-targeted therapies to the clinic. We are proud to support CIT in pioneering this new therapeutic modality. Inhibiting SUMOylation can reprogram tumor microenvironments, sensitize tumors to chemo and radiotherapy, and suppress oncogenic signaling" Michel Azoulay, MD, Chief Medical Officer of IFLI.
"Our vision is to transform cancer care by developing therapies that target novel biological mechanisms, which aligns with that of IFLI," said Yuan Chen, PhD, Founder and CEO of CIT Therapeutics and Professor and Chief in the Division of Surgical Sciences and Professor in the Division Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Moores Cancer Center. "We are excited for this partnership and eager to start our clinical trial to deliver meaningful benefit to patients."