Startups
Aculeus Therapeutics
Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Aculeus Therapeutics is a Melbourne biotechnology company developing drugs that modulate innate immunity for cancer and other serious diseases. Its lead small-molecule STING activator, ACU-0943, is designed for intravenous delivery to stimulate immune responses against tumours. Its earlier-stage ENPP1 inhibitor program investigates combinations with chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments. The company also publishes exploratory infection and STING antibody-drug conjugate programs. Aculeus in-licensed its STING and ENPP1 programs from the CRC for Cancer Therapeutics in2020 and operates with a core discovery team, specialist advisers and external research and manufacturing partners. It reports completion of ACU-0943 clinical-batch manufacture and pivotal preclinical toxicology; its published trial timetable is a plan, rather than confirmation that patients have been dosed. Aculeus also acquired the investigational TLR9-modulating asset pixatimod and is a collaborator on a completed Phase II combination study registered as NCT05061017. These are investigational development programs, not approved medicines.