IU Drug Discovery Initiative Helps Researchers Move Cancer Drugs From The Lab To Patients

An initiative at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center is helping researchers move early-stage drug discoveries from the lab to clinical applications that could transform cancer care and advance progress toward cancer cures.

Since its launch in 2019, the cancer center’s Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Accelerator, or CD3A, has partnered with researchers on more than 50 discovery projects, with about 20% of those resulting in startup companies. These projects range from small molecules and cell therapies to repurposed drugs or new combination therapies — all aiming to bring new innovative cancer treatments to patients.

“CD3A is a way to be cost-, time- and expertise-effective to advance the discoveries we’re making at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and facilitate fast, efficient and high-quality movement to the clinic,” said Mark Kelley, co-leader of CD3A and the Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research at the IU School of Medicine. “This is all about getting new treatments that work to our patients as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

From lab to clinic
CD3A aims to advance the innovative anti-cancer drugs developed at IU through an Investigational New Drug filing to the Food and Drug Administration, which then allows clinical trials. The goal is to advance five IU-developed anti-cancer drugs through this process in the next six to eight years. CD3A also provides the infrastructure to make these IU innovations financially appealing for licensing or pharmaceutical or biotech partnerships.

“For our IU researchers who have a new discovery, CD3A’s message is: ‘You need to keep doing your science because we want you to keep doing your science,’” Kelley said. “That’s why CD3A is available to help with these other aspects that many researchers lack the expertise or time to figure out. We are helping to move drug discovery projects along in a way that’s time-efficient, money-efficient, and exactly what needs to be done.”

A cancer center researcher, Kelley knows firsthand what this takes. He holds 19 U.S. and 35 foreign patents, including his work developing APX3330, a first-of-its-kind drug compound that targeted part of an enzyme in clinical trials to slow or stop cancer growth. Kelley was recently elected to the prestigious National Academy of Inventors.

Deep expertise in transforming cancer care
The CD3A team, with 15 advisers who have a combined 325+ years of experience at pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Company, offers commercial strategy experience and direct knowledge of the steps necessary to move drugs to market approval.

In the past five years, nearly 150 oncology patents have been filed at IU. This is where CD3A can step in with resources to attract investment and pharma partnership opportunities that fast-track these findings to new treatment options.

“Our distinct value lies in our ability to transform a high-potential discovery into a clear, investor-ready strategic asset,” said Chafiq Hamdouchi, co-leader of CD3A and senior research professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine. “We apply the rigorous, milestone-driven development path used by industry to quickly resolve the critical scientific risks necessary for clinical translation.”

Cancer research projects that have resulted in startup companies from School of Medicine faculty include:

• Multiple myeloma and solid tumor research by associate dean for cancer research Dr. Kelvin Lee.
• An oropharyngeal and cervical cancer project led by professor of dermatology Dr. Elliot Androphy.
• A project for hematological malignancies and non-small-cell lung cancer treatments led by assistant research professor Ana Mendes Leal.

Androphy founded Kovina Therapeutics, an Indianapolis-based early-stage biotech company that develops targeted antiviral therapeutics to eliminate cancers and precancerous conditions driven by human papillomavirus, or HPV.

“CD3A provided Kovina Therapeutics access to experienced translational and drug-development expertise at a very early stage, including the ability to leverage established CD3A vendor relationships for key studies,” Kovina CEO Kristin Sherman said. “This no-cost support helped us move faster while reducing risk and improving the likelihood of success for our work on therapies for HPV infections and cancers.”

Partnering with industry for tomorrow’s treatments
CD3A also offers its expertise to external industry partners. In late 2025, CD3A executed its first external Professional Services Agreement with SignalRx Pharmaceuticals, a small startup company that has developed drug immuno-oncology candidates.

“This agreement is a momentous step that validates the core mission of CD3A, demonstrating that we can effectively leverage IU’s unparalleled scientific expertise to work directly with biotech partners,” Kelley said.

The CD3A team designed a strategy to generate the high-impact data required to validate the SignalRx drug’s mechanism of action.

“We are confident that CD3A’s experienced team will provide the rigorous strategic planning and operational clarity needed to resolve our program’s most critical technical challenge,” said Joseph Garlich, chief commercialization officer at SignalRx Pharmaceuticals. “This road map is essential for our capital raise, transforming scientific promise into an actionable, fundable development package.”

Achievements like this are made possible in part by generous donors to Indiana University. See how your donation can empower the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center to continue doing such important work.