Onco-Innovations Engages the University of Alberta and Cross Cancer Institute to Expand PNKP Inhibitor Research into Hard-to-Treat Cancers

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 13, 2025 / Onco-Innovations Limited (CBOE:ONCO)(Frankfurt:W1H,WKN: A3EKSZ) ("Onco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with the University of Alberta and Cross Cancer Institute to undertake a preclinical study that supports the Company's intention to expand the research scope of its second-generation nanoparticle formulation of its Polynucleotide Kinase 3'-Phosphatase (PNKP) Inhibitor technology to encompass hard-to-treat cancers.

The Company plans to begin with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) as the focus of the first study under this research engagement. GBM is an aggressive and fast-growing form of brain cancer that arises from glial cells in the brain. GBM is one of the most complex, treatment-resistant cancers, accounting for approximately 50% of all primary malignant brain tumours. Each year, more than 200,000 individuals worldwide are estimated to succumb to the disease.¹ The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients remains extremely low.² The research is anticipated to be led by Dr. Michael Weinfeld, a Senior Scientist at Alberta Health Services and Professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Alberta, whose pioneering research led to the discovery of the PNKP inhibitor technology and who currently serves on Onco-Innovations' Scientific Advisory Board.

The preclinical research program is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with further details to be disclosed as development plans advance. The study is aimed at generating early preclinical data that will help assess the therapeutic potential of the Company's PNKP inhibitor platform in the context of GBM and potentially other treatment-resistant cancers. Key areas of investigation will include evaluating the compound's pharmacological characteristics, its ability to enhance DNA damage in tumour models, its effects on normal brain tissue, and its potential to support future combination strategies with standard-of-care therapies.

"Preclinical evaluation of PNKP inhibitor activity in additional cancer types is a significant step towards the broader clinical application of our technology. By generating targeted preclinical data, we aim to deepen our understanding of how PNKP inhibition can be leveraged across difficult cancer settings and begin laying the groundwork for a development path that may support combination treatment strategies and other future applications. This kind of focused early research is essential to advancing a precision-driven therapeutic platform," stated Thomas O'Shaughnessy, Chief Executive Officer of Onco-Innovations.