Redx Pharma Plc (LON:REDX) has found a candidate from its cancer drug programme that it plans to take into clinical development.
The compound, named RXC005, is a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or BTK inhibitor for short.
It has been designed for use in people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, including those who are resistant to the current best-in-class treatment ibrutinib.
RXC005 is said to be equally potent against the most common type of BTK protein implicated in in the disease and the mutant protein that leads to drug resistance.
First-in-human clinical trials are expected to get underway in early 2018.
The company’s Porcupine inhibitor, also for cancer, is expected to move into the clinical trial phase early next year.
Chief executive, Dr Neil Murray, said: "We're delighted to announce another cancer drug candidate from our innovative development pipeline.
“The nomination of RXC005, a novel reversible BTK inhibitor, comes within a month of confirming the planned start of clinical trials for our most advanced program, the Porcupine inhibitor, in some hard-to-treat cancers.”
As well as developing the generation cancer drugs, Redx is developing the next wave of antibiotics.