Since its creation in 2019, Walloon company EPICS Therapeutics has been focusing its research on RNA epigenetics to find a drug to fight cancer. EPICS Therapeutics is looking for investors to develop the clinical trial stage. Discovery.
At this year's BioEquity Europe congress in Bruges, EPICS Therapeutics presented its research in the field of mRNA epigenetics, with a view to attracting investors for the clinical development stage. “As EPICS has reached the milestone of advancing its first product (EP102) into clinical development, the BioEquity Meeting arrives at the perfect time to bring attention to the EP102 program to inform investors interested to participate in the clinical development of EP102 and also alert industry partners to begin to explore opportunities for corporate partnering (M&A, trade-sale)”, argues Graeme Fraser, CEO of EPICS.
EPICS Therapeutics was founded in 2019 in Gosselies, and today has 32 FTEs based in Belgium. The aim of EPICS? To discover and develop small-molecule drugs in the emerging space of RNA epigenetics as a new approach to cancer treatment. “ EPICS’ lead product (‘EP102’) is a small-molecule inhibitor of METTL3, a key enzyme implicated in mRNA epigenetics that is overexpressed in many types of cancer. EP102 has demonstrated a profound effect on tumor growth inhibition in various cancer types encompassing solid tumors and certain blood cancers. In particular, tumors that are sensitive to a DNA damage response (ex. responsive to PARP inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors and/or radiation) also appear to be particulary sensitive to EP102 ; therefore, these types of tumors (for example : ovarian, NSCLC, TNBC, pancreatic, gastric) are going to be the focus of the initial clinical trials with EP102”, elaborates Graeme Fraser.
In this very specific field, EPICS is virtually unrivalled. “RNA epigenetics is a new research field and there is only one other competitor with a METTL3 inhibitor advanced into clinical development. EPICS has directly compared EP102 with the competition and EP102 has been demonstrated to have a superior profile. Furthermore, EPICS has a distinct clinical development strategy relative to the competition where EPICS is focused on testing EP102 in solid tumors sensitive to the DNA damage response”, adds our contact.
Until the project matures through clinical development, EPICS' drug discovery activities are currently based in Belgium.
At a time when oncology research is constantly looking for new avenues, EPICS Therapeutics embodies the hope of an innovative treatment based on RNA epigenetics. All that remains is to convince investors to invest in this Walloon start-up, which could well become a key player in the fight against cancer.
Isabelle Anneet (AWEX)