iOnctura, a clinical-stage oncology company based in Amsterdam and Geneva, develops cambritaxestat (IOA-289), an oral drug that blocks autotaxin, an enzyme that drives the fibrotic scar tissue around pancreatic tumours. Its EIC application said the funding would "accelerate the clinical development of IOA-289 as a treatment for pancreatic cancer through Phase I/II clinical trials, reach a major value inflection point and attract further financial investment", according to CORDIS.
The European Innovation Council granted €2,500,000 towards a €5.91 million project from October 2022 to March 2025. The final report says the first patient was dosed in Italy in November 2022 and 16 patients were treated across four dose levels in combination with chemotherapy, with dose escalation completed in February 2025 and doses of 100 to 800 mg twice daily judged safe. It also notes a caution: "some biomarkers suggest that the chemotherapy counteracts part of IOA-289 activity". In October 2025 iOnctura announced that the Phase Ib study had met its primary endpoint of safety, tolerability and anti-tumour responses, Syncona reported.
Company file
- Legal entity
- iOnctura B.V., Amsterdam; operations also in Geneva
- Drugs
- Roginolisib (lead, PI3Kδ), cambritaxestat (IOA-289, autotaxin), IOA-359
- Chief medical officer
- Michael Lahn
- Investors
- Syncona, EIC Fund, M Ventures, Inkef, VI Partners, Schroders Capital, 3B Future Health Fund
- Trial
- AION-02, NCT05586516, Italy and UK
- EIC project
- CURE-PDAC, 1 Oct 2022 to 31 Mar 2025, closed
- EIC funding
- Blended finance
Where iOnctura Stands Now
The ESMO data showed no dose-limiting toxicities and consistent, durable falls in the tumour marker CA19-9 in higher-dose patients, which were associated with radiographic responses and survival, iOnctura said. The US Food and Drug Administration granted cambritaxestat orphan drug designation for pancreatic cancer in March 2024. iOnctura's €80 million Series B in June 2024 was aimed chiefly at its lead drug, roginolisib, for uveal melanoma and other cancers, according to its announcement. The report says a single-agent study of cambritaxestat in liver cancer was being planned.
"These findings warrant continued scientific exploration in autotaxin inhibition."
Davide Melisi, lead investigator, University of Verona, October 2025The Science: Breaking the Tumour's Shield
Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of 13%, the report says, and dense scar tissue blocks chemotherapy and immune cells. Autotaxin is key to driving that fibrosis, the report says. Cambritaxestat, taken as a capsule, is designed to reduce fibrosis, dampen tumour growth and help immune cells reach the tumour. It is the first autotaxin inhibitor tested in cancer patients, according to the company.
What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows
The project promised Phase I/II development in pancreatic cancer and a value inflection point that would attract investment. The Phase Ib was completed and investment followed, including from the EIC Fund. No Phase II in pancreatic cancer has been announced, and the report itself calls for larger studies and more work to find the best drug combinations. CORDIS lists the project as closed.
- Phase Ib completedDelivered16 patients, endpoint met.
- Orphan designationDeliveredFDA, March 2024.
- Follow-on investmentDelivered€80M Series B.
- Phase II in pancreatic cancerNot startedNone announced.
The Money
The Series B was led by Syncona, with the EIC Fund and existing investors. The EIC Fund's share, how much of the round goes to cambritaxestat versus roginolisib, and iOnctura's cash runway are not public.
What Cannot Be Checked
Questions for the EIC
Whether iOnctura will run a Phase II of cambritaxestat in pancreatic cancer, how much the EIC Fund invested, and whether the chemotherapy interaction flagged in the report has been resolved are not public.
Why Europe Should Care
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with few new treatment options. The EIC funded a European first-in-class approach to it, and the early trial was completed on time. Whether the programme continues in pancreatic cancer depends on company priorities that now favour another drug.
What the project promised
Phase I/II development of an autotaxin inhibitor for pancreatic cancer, and investment on the back of it.
What the record shows
A completed 16-patient Phase Ib, orphan designation, an €80 million Series B, and no pancreatic Phase II yet.
The Verdict
Early trial delivered, next step open
iOnctura ran the study the EIC funded and met its goal. The drug's future in pancreatic cancer now depends on a Phase II that has not been announced.
iOnctura and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.
