TEL AVIV, Israel & OSLO, Norway, July 20, 2026
BioLineRx Ltd. and Hemispherian AS have announced that new preclinical data demonstrating the strong synergistic activity of GLIX1 in combination with PARP inhibitors in homologous recombination (HR)-proficient ovarian cancer have been accepted for presentation as an e-Poster at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, taking place from October 23–27 in Madrid, Spain. The accepted research highlights the potential of GLIX1, a first-in-class TET2 activator, to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer patients who currently derive limited benefit from existing targeted therapies. The presentation represents another important milestone for both companies as they continue advancing innovative oncology programs focused on overcoming treatment resistance and expanding precision medicine options for patients with difficult-to-treat solid tumors.
Preclinical Study Demonstrates Strong Synergy with PARP Inhibitors
The accepted ESMO abstract, titled “GLIX1, a TET2 Activator Targeting the DNA Damage Response, Synergizes with PARP Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines,” presents compelling preclinical findings demonstrating that GLIX1 significantly enhances the activity of multiple PARP inhibitors in HR-proficient ovarian cancer cell lines. PARP inhibitors have transformed the treatment landscape for ovarian cancer patients carrying BRCA mutations or homologous recombination-deficient tumors, but their effectiveness remains limited in approximately 50% of high-grade serous ovarian cancers that are HR-proficient. By activating the TET2 pathway, GLIX1 disrupts the DNA damage response, overwhelming cancer cells’ repair mechanisms and promoting programmed cancer cell death. The observed synergy suggests that combining GLIX1 with PARP inhibition may significantly broaden the clinical utility of PARP-based therapies by extending their benefits to a much larger patient population with currently limited treatment options.
Innovative TET2 Activator Targets Unmet Need in Ovarian Cancer
GLIX1 is a first-in-class, orally administered, brain-penetrant small molecule designed to activate the Ten-Eleven Translocation 2 (TET2) pathway, which is frequently suppressed in cancer cells. Unlike conventional therapies, GLIX1 targets an entirely novel biological mechanism that interferes with cancer cell DNA repair while enhancing susceptibility to therapeutic intervention. Ovarian cancer remains the deadliest gynecologic malignancy, with more than 21,000 new cases and over 12,000 deaths projected in the United States during 2026. Although surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and PARP inhibitors have improved outcomes for selected patients, those with HR-proficient tumors often experience primary platinum resistance, earlier disease progression, and shorter survival, underscoring the urgent need for innovative treatment strategies capable of improving long-term outcomes in this underserved population.
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Clinical Development Continues Across Multiple Solid Tumors
The ESMO presentation further supports the ongoing collaboration between BioLineRx and Hemispherian AS, which are jointly advancing GLIX1 through clinical development for glioblastoma and multiple solid tumors. BioLineRx initiated a Phase 1/2a clinical trial for GLIX1 earlier in 2026, evaluating the investigational therapy’s safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary anti-tumor activity. Beyond ovarian cancer, the companies believe GLIX1’s novel mechanism may have broad applicability across a wide range of difficult-to-treat malignancies characterized by DNA repair dysfunction. Presentation of these findings at one of the world’s leading oncology congresses highlights increasing scientific interest in DNA damage response-targeted therapies and reinforces the potential of GLIX1 to emerge as a next-generation precision oncology treatment capable of improving therapeutic outcomes through innovative combination strategies.
Source: BioLineRx, Hemispherian AS press release
