Argonaut Therapeutics

Argonaut Therapeutics, established in 2016 as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel epigenetic therapies for cancer treatment. The company was founded by Professor Nick La Thangue, a Professor of Cancer Biology in the Department of Oncology at Oxford University, who brings over 30 years of experience in biotech entrepreneurship and translational cancer science. His extensive background includes founding other biotech companies like Celleron Therapeutics and Prolifix, demonstrating a clear throughline of expertise in cell cycle therapeutics and precision oncology.

The company's core focus is on developing drugs that target abnormal arginine methylation in cancer, a process that is dysregulated in many forms of the disease. Argonaut's lead program centers on inhibitors of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a key enzyme involved in the malignant phenotype of various cancers. By inhibiting PRMT5, the company's therapeutic candidates aim to halt cancer cell growth by reactivating the body's natural process of programmed cell death. This approach is coupled with a precision medicine strategy, utilizing proprietary biomarkers to identify patients most likely to respond to their treatments.

Argonaut Therapeutics operates within the drug discovery and biotechnology sectors, specifically targeting unmet needs in oncology. The business model revolves around the discovery and development of its proprietary drug pipeline, with the goal of advancing these candidates through preclinical and clinical studies. The company has secured funding through several rounds, including investments from Oxford Science Enterprises, JW Pharmaceutical Corporation, and other private investors, which have been instrumental in advancing its PRMT5 inhibitor program toward clinical trials. In a significant milestone, Argonaut Therapeutics merged with Celleron Therapeutics in January 2023 to form IngenOx Therapeutics. This merger created a more integrated company by combining Argonaut's drug discovery capabilities with Celleron's clinical development expertise, aiming to streamline the research and development process for new cancer therapies.

Keywords: epigenetic therapies, cancer treatment, drug discovery, PRMT5 inhibitors, arginine methylation, precision medicine, oncology, biopharmaceutical, Oxford spin-out, cancer biology, clinical development, therapeutics, cancer research, preclinical studies, targeted therapy, cell death, biomarker, oncology pipeline, venture capital, M&A