On November 21, 2023 Oncoteq AG, a clinical stage biotech company specializing in innovative cancer treatments, expands its pipeline with the in-licensing of the small molecule TEQ103 (formerly SERA2) from US biotech incubator, Systems Oncology (Press release, Cureteq, NOV 21, 2023, View Source [SID1234651624]). The agreement represents Oncoteq’s second in-licensing of a potential first-in-class or best-in-class cancer treatment following its transaction with Merck KGaA in 2022. The company will continue to seek opportunities with which to expand its growing oncology-focused pipeline.

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TEQ103 is a first-in-class selective estrogen receptor activator (SERA) that potentially offers a paradigm-shifting treatment approach for patients with breast cancer. TEQ103 utilises a novel mechanism directed towards estrogen receptor alpha (ER), a proven target for the treatment of patients with breast cancer. Through high-affinity binding to ER TEQ103 exerts lethal effects only in cells that have an activated stress response, so-called anticipatory unfolded protein response (aUPR), a feature absent in healthy cells. This pushes a normally protective cellular stress-response pathway into overdrive and rapidly and selectively kills ER-expressing cancer cells. Current ER- targeting ("endocrine") breast cancer treatments act to slow tumor growth by modulating or degrading ER or by lowering estrogen levels and lack selectivity for cancer cells.

Breast cancer is among the most frequent of cancers and annually more than an estimated 350,000 patients lose their lives to the disease. Given that around 80% of all breast cancers express ER, TEQ103 may represent a paradigm shift in treatment for a large group of breast cancer patients.

"We are thrilled by the opportunity to bring forward a potentially highly effective treatment for breast cancer, a disease still characterized by significant unmet medical needs despite recent advances in treatment. We are excited to progress this molecule as fast as possible to clinical testing, knowing that it could be a potential game changer for breast cancer patients in great need", says Mads Dalsgaard, Chief Executive Officer of Oncoteq.

Spyro Mousses, Chief Executive Officer of Systems Oncology, comments: "We are really impressed with the team at Oncoteq and their vision of how to take this molecule forward to a new groundbreaking breast cancer treatment. It is pleasure to hand over the future development to Oncoteq and have them build upon what we started, first and foremost to benefit patients"

TEQ103 is currently in pre-clinical development and Oncoteq will complete the non-clinical data package before advancing the molecule into clinical development in 2025. Oncoteq will firstly prioritize development of TEQ103 as treatment of breast cancer and could later expand to other indications, as the compound has potential as a treatment for several other cancers. Currently, the global market for breast cancer treatments has a value of approximately USD 25-30 billion annually, thus TEQ103 has significant potential not only for patients but also commercially.

Through the deal, Oncoteq obtains a world-wide exclusive license to develop and commercialize TEQ103 in exchange for upfront payment, milestones and royalties.