Ellipses Pharma is a UK-based pharmaceutical development company founded in 2015. It focuses on accelerating the delivery of new cancer therapies to patients.
The Asset-Centric Development Model
Ellipses Pharma employs an “asset-centric” development model, which differentiates it from traditional pharmaceutical organizations. This strategy involves acquiring promising drug candidates, or assets, from external sources like cancer research organizations, biotechnology firms, and universities. Development of these assets is then managed through specialized, outsourced partners.
This approach incorporates unbiased vetting during candidate selection and trial design, which helps mitigate risks inherent in drug development. The company maintains an uninterrupted flow of funding across its portfolio, rather than raising capital for individual trials. This continuous financial support minimizes the time required to advance products through clinical trials and reach patients. The model aims to maximize the probability of success for each asset by concentrating development efforts.
Therapeutic Focus on Oncology
Ellipses Pharma is exclusively dedicated to oncology, focusing on the development of cancer treatments. This specialized focus addresses the global need for novel and more effective cancer drugs. The company recognizes that conventional drug development models have struggled to keep pace with the complex and evolving nature of cancer.
Their pipeline includes therapies targeting a range of malignancies, encompassing various solid tumors and hematological cancers. Specific areas of interest include advanced ovarian cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and thyroid cancer. By concentrating on oncology, Ellipses Pharma aims to make a significant impact on patient outcomes.
Key Programmes in the Pipeline
Ellipses Pharma’s pipeline features several promising drug candidates. EP0057 is a nanoparticle drug conjugate that utilizes a topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin, delivered via cyclodextrin nanoparticle technology. This compound is currently undergoing Phase 2 studies for advanced ovarian cancer, including investigations in combination with olaparib, and is also being explored for advanced gastric cancer. The drug has received orphan drug designation.
EP0062, known as vosilasarm, is an oral selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). This SARM is being developed for advanced breast cancer, particularly in patients with AR+/ER+/HER2- tumors. It works by targeting androgen receptors to activate signaling pathways, which in turn reduces the growth and proliferation of these specific breast cancer cells. Initial Phase 1/2 trial data indicate encouraging responses and an acceptable safety profile in heavily pre-treated patients.
EP0031 is a next-generation selective RET inhibitor for RET-altered solid tumors. It targets specific genetic mutations and rearrangements in the RET gene, which are found in approximately 2% of all solid tumors. This drug is currently in Phase 1/2 studies and has shown promising efficacy, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer and medullary thyroid cancer.
EP0042 is a dual FLT3 and Aurora kinase inhibitor, being investigated in an adaptive Phase 1/2 study for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Preliminary results from this study have demonstrated a favorable safety profile and initial signs of efficacy, leading to its designation as an Orphan Drug by the U.S. FDA. Ellipses Pharma is also developing EP0089, a first-in-class immuno-oncology monoclonal antibody that targets CNTN4. This novel checkpoint protein is highly expressed in a wide range of tumor types and aims to address patients who do not respond to existing checkpoint inhibitors by blocking the CNTN4-APP interaction on T cells, thereby promoting tumor cell killing.
Leadership and Vision
Ellipses Pharma is led by a team with extensive experience in drug development and biotechnology. The company was co-founded by Dr. Rajan Jethwa, CEO, and Professor Sir Chris Evans, Chairman. Dr. Jethwa brings nearly two decades of experience in the life sciences sector, having held roles as a surgeon, investor, and chief executive, and co-founded the Cancer Platform and Cancer Awareness Trust.
Professor Sir Chris Evans is a respected scientist and entrepreneur with a long track record in the industry, involved in the inception and development of over 50 companies. Their collective expertise guides the company’s overall strategy. Professor Hendrik-Tobias Arkenau, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, oversees the clinical strategy and development efforts for the company’s pipeline.