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Our therapeutic pipeline

The Institute of Cancer Research is the world’s leading academic centre for cancer drug discovery. Our scientists have discovered 21 new drug candidates since 2005, of which 13 have entered clinical trials, thanks to collaborations with our industry partners.

We also run one of the most successful academic drug development programmes in the world, in partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

Graphic depicting the ICR's therapeutic pipeline

More about our programmes

Each of the compounds to reach clinical trials has emerged from collaborative programmes involving multiple partners. The ICR is one of the world’s leading academic centres for industry collaboration and establishes long-term, fruitful and effective partnerships with industry. Find out more about each programme via the links below.

CCT289346 (MPS-1)

The ICR is looking for a partner to develop the phase I stage MPS1 inhibitor CCT289346 (formerly BOS172722), which has shown promising results in a clinical trial as well as in preclinical studies.

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Lead optimization phase compound series (ERAP1)

The ICR and our partner Cancer Research Horizons are seeking a collaborative partner to accelerate the development of our ERAP1 programme in the ICR's Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery.

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Abiraterone (CYP17)

The discovery and development of abiraterone (brand name Zytiga) is one of the ICR’s most famous successes and has benefitted many thousands of men with prostate cancer worldwide.

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Capivasertib (AKT)

Capivasertib has shown 'remarkable' results in a recent phase III breast cancer trials. The drug was ‘discovered’ in a long-running research programme, initiated by researchers at the ICR and carried through into clinical development with our industry partners.

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MRT-2359 (GSPT1)

Monte Rosa Therapeutics, a biotechnology company originally formed as a spinout from science at the ICR, is focused on discovering and developing molecular glues. Its lead drug programme comes from research geared towards targeting a protein called GSPT1, which was originally initiated by researchers at the ICR.

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Idetrexed (alpha-folate receptor-targeted thylidymate synthase)

In 2023, pharmaceutical company Algok Bio announced that idetrexed (formerly known as ONX-0901 and BTG945) was due to enter a phase II clinical trial in ovarian cancer.

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Pictilisib (PI3K)

Pictilisib has generated promising responses in several cancer types including breast and ovarian, myeloma, melanoma and a rare type of gastrointestinal cancer.

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Luminespib (Hsp90)

Previously called AUY922, the Hsp90 inhibitor luminespib was discovered by researchers at the ICR in collaboration with biotech company Vernalis.

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NXP800 (HSF1 pathway)

NXP8000 is a highly innovative investigational drug discovered at the ICR. It has entered a phase I clinical trial sponsored by oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company Nuvectis Pharma and showed strong preclinical results in a recent ICR-led study.

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Fadraciclib (CYC065) (CDK2/9)

Fadraciclib, also known as CYC065, was jointly discovered by scientists at the ICR in collaboration with the company Cyclacel.

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EP0042 (Aurora/Flt3)

EP0042 was discovered at the ICR and has entered a phase I clinical trial at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. It is a dual inhibitor of cancer-driving proteins from the Aurora and FLT3 families – meaning it blocks the activity of both at once.

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SRA737 (CHK1)

SRA737 was discovered and initially developed by scientists at the ICR, in collaboration with the company Sareum Holdings plc and with funding from Cancer Research UK.

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BAL3833 (panRAF)

BAL3833 is an experimental skin cancer drug that has entered a phase I clinical trial.

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CHR-3996

CHR-3996 was discovered in a collaboration between the ICR and Chroma Therapeutics.

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