UniQuest and the Ellison Medical Institute have signed an exclusive licence that could push a promising University of Queensland treatment for advanced prostate cancer into first-in-human trials as early as 2027.
The small molecule therapeutic, QED-203, was developed at the Queensland Emory Drug Discovery Initiative and is aimed at metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, where treatment options are often exhausted.
QED-203 grew from more than 15 years of research into calcium signalling led by Professor Greg Monteith at UQ’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The drug targets TRPV6, a calcium ion channel linked to aggressive prostate cancer, and QEDDI Head Dr Brian Dymock described it as a potential first-in-class therapy. “Patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer often face very limited options once existing therapies stop working,” Dr Dymock said. “Our goal has been to develop a novel treatment approach that could ultimately improve clinical outcomes for patients with advanced and therapy-resistant disease.”
Professor Monteith called the agreement an important milestone that reflects long-term collaboration with QEDDI scientists.
EMI Founding CEO Dr David Agus said EMI’s integrated capabilities, including AI-driven research, human-relevant preclinical models and in-house clinical expertise, position the institute to accelerate QED-203’s development. “EMI is uniquely positioned to push this work forward, with deep expertise in oncology and a translational mission built for programs like this,” Dr Agus said. “Together, with UniQuest, we’re bringing expertise and a shared sense of purpose needed to move this work forward for the patients and families who need it most.”
UniQuest CEO Dr Dean Moss said the deal highlights QEDDI’s model for translating university research into commercial opportunities with patient impact. QED-203’s development has been supported by the Biomedical Translation Bridge, the Critical Path Institute’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator, and the NHMRC Development Grant scheme to fund key preclinical, manufacturing and safety work.
