A research team team led by Michal Tichy and supported by IOCB Tech presented its CDK9 inhibitor project to the MATWIN board during the oncology-focused MATWIN annual conference in Bordeaux, France. The MATWIN initiative, a key French open-innovation platform in oncology, brings together representatives from academia, major pharmaceutical companies, and clinical research institutions.
The board – composed of 25 industry and academic experts – highly appreciated the team’s structured and methodical approach to identifying a viable clinical candidate. However, CDK9 remains a challenging biological target.
Despite being on the right track and showing promising results, the project did not secure immediate partnership interest, reflecting the complexity of the target and a highly competitive landscape where multiple companies have faced setbacks.
The feedback from the board highlighted the need for convincing in vivo data demonstrating clear superiority over current alternatives. This would require besides other two additional years of focused development work. The future of the project will now depend on strategic considerations and risk assessment by the IOCB Prague.
While the project did not move forward with industry collaboration at this stage, qualification and participation in the MATWIN program is a significant achievement and a testament to the scientific potential and professional execution of the work.