Qualigen: overcoming drug-resistance in cancer therapeutics

Problem to be solved

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with survival rates largely unchanged for decades. Many treatments lose effectiveness as tumours adapt, and drug resistance is a persistent barrier to lasting benefit. There is a need for new mechanisms that can tackle cancer at its source and remain effective across tumour evolution.

Solution

At UCL’s School of Pharmacy, Professor Stephen Neidle and colleagues developed drug-like compounds that bind to four-stranded DNA structures (quadruplexes) found at points of aberration in cancer-related genes. By targeting these DNA structures upstream of oncogene proteins, the approach aims to block the transition from gene to cancer-driving protein and may help side-step common routes to drug resistance. The team demonstrated activity in pancreatic and other tumour types, including in animal models.

How UCL Ventures helped

UCL Ventures supported the commercialisation journey over more than a decade, beginning with securing patent protection and building the evidence base needed for partnering. The project drew on a range of translational funders, and in 2016 the UCL Technology Fund (UCLTF) invested around £1m through its Licensing Project funding stream to help develop a focused preclinical data package and strengthen readiness for licensing. UCL Ventures also coordinated oversight and partner engagement to position the programme for a commercial deal.

Stephen says: “The active compounds were developed over a period of 16 years. With a succession of skilled and imaginative colleagues, we have been able to understand the points of aberration in certain, mostly cancer-related genes, where the genome is not double-stranded DNA. We’ve developed a strategy using drug-like compounds that bind to these areas and prevent the transition from a gene into an oncogene protein.”

The story also captures the perspectives behind the work: “UCLTF funding is highly targeted towards commercialisation. That meant that when we came to licence the technology, we were in a strong position. The project was attractive to the company, as in addition to a robust lead compound, there was a focused and extensive data package, ready for them to take into the next stages of pre-clinical evaluation.

“The goal is to get into clinical trial stage as soon as possible. Qualigen have the resources to do the large-scale synthesis and toxicology that are needed to progress, and that can’t usually be done by academic institutions.”

“Drugs can fail at any point. If you look at pancreatic cancer, a large number of different types of drug therapy have been trialled over the past 10-15 years. And have almost all failed. So it’s very tough. But there’s everything to play for.”

Where is Qualigen now?

A licence deal agreed with US biotechnology company Qualigen Therapeutics in January 2026 will see the company take the programme forward, with the aim of progressing the lead compounds through late preclinical development and into clinical trials. Professor Neidle continues to support the programme as a scientific adviser. Next, the focus is on large-scale synthesis, toxicology and regulatory preparation-steps typically beyond the reach of academic labs but essential to reaching patients. 

Qualigen also announced the first patient in its Phase 1a clinical trial has been dosed with QN-302, a potential first-in-class, investigational G-Quadruplex (G4)-selective transcription inhibitor designed for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumours.