Newton Biocapital invests in Flemish start-up DeuterOncology

Newton Biocapital invests in Flemish start-up DeuterOncology

Brussels, Belgium, 24 February 2021 – Newton Biocapital I (“Newton Biocapital”), a life sciences investment fund active in Europe and Japan focused on chronic diseases, has announced investment in DeuterOncology. Newton Biocapital’s second investment in Flanders, DeuterOncology is a preclinical-stage biotech company focusing on the development of a first-in-class dual MET and RAS pathway inhibitor for targeted cancer therapies.

Recently MET inhibitors have been approved, yet they all suffer from the same issue: resistance is quick to arise. As the RAS pathway is located downstream of MET, RAS pathway inhibitors represent a promising new target for overcoming or delaying these resistance issues. DeuterOncology’s lead compound DO-2 is a dual MET and RAS pathway inhibitor under pre-clinical investigation as a targeted therapy for lung cancer, as well as potential broader oncology applications when used in combination with EGFR inhibitors.

Timothy Perera, founder and CEO of DeuterOncology: “We are grateful for the financial support of Newton Biocapital, which will help us to advance the development of our lead program DO-2 towards Phase I clinical trials.  Our compounds have the potential to overcome resistance to MET inhibitors, and we are excited that this funding brings us a step closer to offering our cancer solutions to clinicians and patients.”

Els Hubloux, partner at Newton Biocapital Partners: “DeuterOncology brings a wealth of experience in pre-clinical and clinical research, for kinase inhibitors in general and particularly for MET inhibitors. Newton Biocapital is proud to take DeuterOncology into its portfolio, with the ambition to bring novel treatment approaches for cancer patients closer to market.”