AUSTIN, TX — April 29, 2025 — INNOVOTEX, a pharmaceutical company pioneering macrocycle drug conjugates (MDCs) to overcome chemoresistance, today announced compelling new preclinical data positioning NOVO-111 as a superior, next-generation replacement for oxaliplatin in the treatment of colon cancer.
NOVO-111 is a novel MDC that links an expanded porphyrin macrocycle to a lipophilic Pt(IV) analogue of oxaliplatin. Unlike conventional platinum chemotherapies, which are often hampered by drug resistance and systemic toxicity, NOVO-111 is specifically engineered to bypass these limitations by inducing ribosomal biogenesis stress (RBS) as a method to activate the tumor suppressor gene p53.
Key Highlights:
- Mechanism of Action: In engineered human colon cancer cells with SNAP-tagged RPL28, NOVO-111 robustly induced RBS, marked by significant increases in nucleolar puncta and reductions in ribosome subunit production—hallmarks of disrupted ribosomal function.
- Superior Efficacy: In two patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of colorectal cancer, NOVO-111 achieved statistically significant tumor growth inhibition (TGI) rates of up to 94%, compared to only 62% for oxaliplatin (p < 0.01).
- Improved Survival: In long-term studies, 88% of NOVO-111–treated mice survived beyond 80 days, compared to just 25% of oxaliplatin-treated mice.
- Favorable Tolerability: NOVO-111 demonstrated minimal body weight loss, suggesting a superior safety profile.
“These findings position NOVO-111 as a powerful and well-tolerated next-generation replacement for oxaliplatin in the treatment of colon cancer,” said Jonathan Arambula, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer at INNOVOTEX. “NOVO-111 not only overcomes resistance—it extends survival, offering new hope to patients battling advanced disease.”
“Therapies like NOVO-111, which localize to tumors while sparing healthy tissue, represent a paradigm shift in how we could treat colorectal cancer,” said S. Gail Eckhardt, M.D., GI medical oncologist, Scientific Advisory Board member, and Associate Dean of Experimental Therapeutics at Baylor College of Medicine. “By reducing toxicity without compromising potency, potential treatments like NOVO-111 offer patients a chance not just to survive, but to truly live.”
INNOVOTEX plans to advance NOVO-111 into clinical development in 2026.
About INNOVOTEX
INNOVOTEX is developing macrocycle drug conjugates (MDCs) designed to overcome treatment resistance and toxicity in solid tumors. NOVO-111 is the company’s lead program targeting colon cancer.