Portfolio

Sprint Bioscience develops small molecule drug programs with a focus on oncology. We work with multiple programs in parallel to build a broad portfolio of preclinical programs that are licensed to partners in the pharma industry for further development. Our programs are mainly in three areas of biology, all of which are important for the growth and survival of cancer cells. These three focus areas overlap, which provides valuable synergies between the programs. This makes us efficient and contributes to building a unique expertise that facilitates the selection target proteins and makes Sprint Bioscience an attractive licensing partner.

Tumor metabolism

Due to their rapid growth, cancer cells depend on a constant supply of energy and building blocks in a way that differs from the needs of healthy cells. This creates a vulnerability in cancer cells that are exploited in the programs we develop in this area. By blocking the metabolic pathways specific to the tumor, the growth of the tumor can be blocked.

The tumor microenvironment

A tumor is usually a mixture of cancer cells and other cell types that are normally found in the body. These normal cells have often been “reprogrammed” by the cancer cells to support tumor growth. A tumor is characterized, among other things, by poor blood supply, which creates an environment that is very different from the environment in the rest of the body. The different cell types in the tumor need to adapt to this environment, and by developing drugs that block this adaptation, the growth of the tumor can be stopped.

Immuno-oncology

The field of immuno-oncology is about developing treatments that help the body’s own immune system fight cancer. In order for a tumor to form in the body, cancer cells need to find ways to escape the immune system. The programs we develop in this area aim to block these mechanisms so that the tumor can be identified and eliminated by the immune system.