Onconic Therapeutics announced on Wednesday that it will participate in the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2026, scheduled from April 17-22 in San Diego. The company plans to present research findings on its next-generation cancer drug candidate, Nesuparib, for small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer in poster format.
Nesuparib is a dual-mechanism synthetic lethal cancer drug that simultaneously inhibits Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and Tankyrase. It’s currently undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials for four cancer types: pancreatic, endometrial, ovarian, and gastric cancers.
Since its initial clinical results were unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021, Nesuparib has been showcasing accumulated mechanistic and preclinical data through AACR from 2023 to 2025. This year’s AACR presentation is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with the Phase 2 clinical development stage.
Nesuparib has garnered attention for its approach to addressing the limitations of existing PARP inhibitors. While conventional DNA damage repair blockers have shown some efficacy, their clinical benefits have often been restricted to patients with BRCA mutations.
Nesuparib sets itself apart by incorporating Tankyrase inhibition, which modulates both Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways, potentially overcoming these limitations. Its structure targets multiple tumor growth and metastasis pathways simultaneously, raising the possibility of a treatment that isn’t dependent on specific genetic mutations.
The data to be presented at AACR is expected to bolster this mechanistic approach. According to the published abstract, Nesuparib demonstrated up to 133 times greater cancer cell growth inhibition than the existing PARP inhibitor Olaparib in small cell lung cancer cell experiments, and about 25 times greater than Irinotecan. In animal models, it achieved a tumor suppression rate of approximately 66.5%, showing improved results compared to control groups.
Similar promising results were observed in pancreatic cancer. The abstract indicates that Nesuparib showed excellent anti-tumor effects even in models without BRCA mutations. When combined with the standard treatment gemcitabine, it reduced cancer cell survival rates by over 70% and tumor size by up to 79%.
Nesuparib has completed Phase 1b clinical trials as a first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer, regardless of BRCA mutation status, and is now advancing to Phase 2 trials. The pancreatic cancer presentation at this AACR is anticipated to validate Nesuparib’s unique properties and boost expectations for clinical success.
Furthermore, this data is viewed as demonstrating Nesuparib’s potential as a pan-tumor cancer drug candidate, suggesting it could be effective across various cancer types.
A company spokesperson stated that Nesuparib is progressing through Phase 2 trials for four indications by expanding on existing treatment approaches. It has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) orphan drug designation for three cancer types, generating significant interest in the global market. The spokesperson added that they’re sending a large team of seven members to this AACR to present data on small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer, as well as engage in various business meetings.