Cancer Research UK and ORIC Partnered on Novel Drug
The organizations have agreed to develop an experimental therapy designed to degrade cancer-promoting proteins.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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ORIC Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with Cancer Research UK to advance the development of ORIC-259, an oral medication targeting cancer progression. The partnership focuses on taking the drug candidate through clinical development to test its efficacy in patients with specific cancer types.
Why it matters
This collaboration aims to advance a novel mechanism that addresses proteins known to drive tumor growth. By leveraging Cancer Research UK's expertise in clinical trials, the agreement accelerates the timeline for potentially bringing this new therapy into human testing.
Cancer Research UK brings a 30-year track record of development experience to this partnership. The project remains in the early stages as clinical-trial-enabling studies have not yet concluded.
The players
ORIC Pharmaceuticals
A South San Francisco and San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for treatment-resistant cancers.
Cancer Research UK
A major non-profit organization that funds research and drug development to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
The details
ORIC-259 is an orally bioavailable small molecule designed to degrade CIP2A mRNA. The drug works by modifying mRNA splicing to insert a premature stop codon, which prevents the production of the CIP2A protein. This protein is implicated in cancer progression because it interferes with critical cellular processes like phosphorylation and mitosis, especially in cancers involving homologous recombination deficiency.
Timeline
October 5, 2026: ORIC Pharmaceuticals announced the development agreement.
Health Landscape
This development follows the operational model of Cancer Research UK's Centre for Drug Development, which has facilitated 170 clinical trials over the last 30 years. It marks an expansion of the current research landscape for therapies targeting CIP2A mRNA and its role in tumor mitosis.
This early-stage agreement does not yet impact current treatment options for cancer patients. Those interested in emerging clinical research for cancers with homologous recombination deficiency should monitor future trial announcements with their oncology team.
The takeaway
The partnership aims to translate scientific research into a new class of oral drugs that selectively degrade harmful proteins. Patients or caregivers should follow updates on clinical trial registration sites to stay informed about when new study cohorts may begin recruitment.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Cancer research and clinical trial developments.
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