SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and SAN DIEGO — October 5, 2026
ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced an agreement with Cancer Research UK to advance ORIC-259, a potential first-in-class small-molecule mRNA degrader targeting CIP2A, into clinical development. Under the agreement, Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development (CDD) will fully fund, sponsor, design and execute CTA-enabling studies and Phase 1/2 clinical development of ORIC-259. ORIC will retain an exclusive option to reacquire rights to the program following Phase 1/2 data, while Cancer Research UK will be eligible for downstream milestone payments and royalties.
ORIC-259 Targets CIP2A Through mRNA Degradation
ORIC-259 is designed to target Cancerous Inhibitor of PP2A (CIP2A), a protein involved in cancer cell proliferation and survival. The orally bioavailable small-molecule degrader is designed to modify CIP2A mRNA splicing so that a premature stop codon is incorporated, triggering mRNA degradation and resulting in loss of CIP2A protein. ORIC is developing the program for cancers with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), where CIP2A may play an important role in maintaining cancer-cell survival. Preclinical studies have demonstrated robust antitumor activity in both PARP inhibitor-sensitive and PARP inhibitor-resistant settings, supporting further evaluation of the approach.
Cancer Research UK to Fund Early Clinical Development
Cancer Research UK’s Centre for Drug Development will assume responsibility for advancing ORIC-259 through CTA-enabling studies and early clinical development. The partnership allows ORIC to pursue clinical development of a novel CIP2A-targeted approach while conserving its internal resources for its existing late-stage programs. The arrangement gives Cancer Research UK responsibility for designing and executing the early development program, with ORIC maintaining an exclusive option to reacquire the rights to ORIC-259 after Phase 1/2 data are generated. The structure also provides Cancer Research UK with potential downstream milestone payments and royalties if the program progresses.
Advertisement
ORIC Expands Its Oncology Resistance Strategy
The ORIC-259 collaboration adds a novel molecular target to ORIC Pharmaceuticals’ broader strategy of developing therapies designed to overcome mechanisms of cancer treatment resistance. ORIC’s clinical-stage portfolio includes rinzimetostat, an EED inhibitor targeting the PRC2 complex for prostate cancer, and enozertinib, a brain-penetrant EGFR inhibitor being developed for NSCLC. ORIC-259 provides an additional development pathway focused on CIP2A and HRD-associated cancers, while the Cancer Research UK partnership enables the program to progress without requiring ORIC to fund the full early clinical development effort. With Cancer Research UK taking responsibility for CTA-enabling studies and Phase 1/2 development, ORIC-259 is positioned to generate the first clinical data needed to assess whether CIP2A mRNA degradation can translate its preclinical antitumor activity into a therapeutic approach for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.
Source:ORIC Pharmaceuticals, press release
