CEACAM5-targeted click-activated cancer drugs
Official title: CEACAM5-targeted activation of potent chemotherapeutics via bioorthogonal click chemistry
Funded at Shasqi, INC. · NIH-11421498 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses a two-part system to activate chemotherapy only at the tumor, aiming to boost effectiveness and reduce side effects for people with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Shasqi, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,142,054 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA306491-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11421498 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with solid tumors expressing the target antigen (e.g., CEACAM5) who might benefit from tumor-specific activation of chemotherapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not express the target antigen or who cannot tolerate the underlying platform would be less likely to benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a targeted way to turn powerful cancer drugs into active medicines only where the tumor is located, by using a special click-chemistry mechanism. A tumor-targeting pretreatment is paired with a non-active drug that becomes active on contact at the tumor site, potentially limiting damage to healthy tissue. The work combines antibody-like targeting with a chemical trigger to release the drug precisely where it’s needed. If successful, patients could experience fewer adverse effects while receiving effective tumor-killing therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may have more effective cancer treatment with fewer side effects due to localized drug activation.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical and early clinical work with targeted prodrug strategies have shown promise in improving tumor selectivity, though this platform is novel in its exact mechanism.
Where this research is happening
-
Shasqi, INC.
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mejia Oneto, Jose M — Shasqi, INC.
- Study coordinator: Mejia Oneto, Jose M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Turning on chemotherapy at tumors with targeted click chemistry
This project develops a way to activate powerful Topo1 chemotherapy drugs only at tumor sites so people with cancer may get stronger treatment with fewer side effects.
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Targeted drug activation to improve cancer treatment
This study is testing a new way to deliver medicine that targets the disease directly, which could help you feel better while causing fewer side effects.
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Targeting cancer treatment to reduce side effects
This study is looking at a new way to make cancer treatment better by using a special method to deliver medicine directly to tumors, which could help reduce side effects and make the treatment more effective for patients.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.