Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of Good Laboratory Practice toxicology studies of its lead oncology program, QN-302, a G4-selective transcription inhibitor currently in development for the treatment of G4 (G-Quadruplex) expressing solid tumors, including pancreatic cancer. The study will be conducted by WuXi AppTec, a leading provider of R&D and manufacturing services that enable the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry to advance discoveries and deliver treatments to patients. GLP toxicology studies are a core component of QN-302's Investigational New Drug (IND) submission package, which is expected to occur in the first half of 2023, and will be followed by human clinical trials once the IND is cleared by the US FDA.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal disease and the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. In-vitro and in-vivo pre-clinical studies of QN-302 have shown that G4 stabilization may result in inhibition of target gene expression and cessation of cell growth in a variety of cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“PDAC”), which represents 98% of pancreatic cancers.