On July 8, 2025 IRIC and IRICoR reported the start of a Phase 1 clinical trial of its small molecule therapy for solid tumors licensed to Ipsen (Press release, Université de Montréal, JUL 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234654289]). This marks a major milestone in the strategic collaboration between the partners, which began in May 2020 with a research and option agreement followed by a licensing agreement in February 2023.
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The small molecule clinical candidate, now known as IPN01195, is a RAF inhibitor, an important target in a signaling pathway involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation. It was originally discovered and developed by the teams of Professors Marc Therrien and Anne Marinier at the Université de Montréal’s Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) and has shown promising activity in preclinical models of various solid tumors.
"We are extremely proud to see our novel small molecule therapy reaching this important clinical milestone. This is another example of the efficiency and innovative approach of IRIC’s collaborative drug discovery research model," said Dr. Anne Marinier, Director of the Drug Discovery Unit at IRIC. "This marks a major step forward for our multidisciplinary teams of biologists and chemists, but more importantly, it brings us closer to delivering a potential new treatment option for patients facing advanced cancers," said Dr. Marc Therrien, Principal Investigator, Intracellular Signalling Research Unit and Chief Executive Officer, IRIC. "We are delighted by the commitment and progress of our partner Ipsen, and we look forward to the continued development of this promising therapy," concluded Dr. Marinier.
"The initiation of this clinical trial marks a major validation of our business development efforts," said Elizabeth Douville, CEO, IRICoR. "It demonstrates our ability to translate novel science into programs that attract world-class partners and progress into the clinic. With additional first-in-class and best-in-class molecules targeting key cancer pathways in our pipeline, we are actively exploring new strategic collaborations and raising capital to accelerate development. This is an exciting inflection point for IRICoR as we continue to deliver both scientific and commercial value," added Elizabeth Douville.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Université de Montréal granted Ipsen exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the compound globally. The University and IRICoR are eligible to receive development and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on net sales.