Oncopeptides AB , a biotech company focused on difficult-to-treat cancers, has announced that three abstracts detailing preclinical and translational data on the application of next-generation alkylating Peptide-Drug Conjugates (PDCs) in glioblastoma have been accepted for poster presentation at the 2026 European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) Congress, held in Rome between September 24-27.
This marks the first major scientific presentations within glioblastoma with Oncopeptides’ data, an important step into a new indication with a significant unmet medical need.
In addition, Oncopeptides is proud to announce that one of the abstracts, titled “Next Generation Alkylating Peptide-Drug Conjugates overcome major resistance mechanisms and prolong survival in MGMT unmethylated Glioblastoma PDOX model”, has been nominated at the prestigious EANO 2026 Poster Award.
The accepted abstracts highlight the capacity of Oncopeptides’ proprietary PDC platform to address key challenges in brain tumors, including blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and treatment resistance mechanisms such as MGMT expression.
Entering the field of glioblastoma represents an important milestone for Oncopeptides and is a natural expansion of our PDC platform. Beyond multiple myeloma, our brain cancer program has entered active clinical evaluation following swift regulatory approval and the initiation of our Window-of-Opportunity study in Oslo. Oncopeptides’ PDC molecules are designed to pass the blood-brain barrier due to their small size and lipophilicity, entering target cancer cells freely to deliver their cytotoxic payload directly where it is needed.
Sofia Heigis, CEO of Oncopeptides.
The scientific presentations outline the mechanistic rationale supporting the development of next-generation PDCs, including lead candidate OPD5 and melflufen, for glioblastoma:
- Proven brain penetration (EP18.03): Studies in animal models confirmed that the drugs successfully reach high concentrations in the brain relative to the bloodstream. This proves they can cross the blood-brain barrier effectively, supporting our ongoing clinical studies.
- Dual-action cell destruction (EP18.04): Inside the cancer cells, the drug breaks down and attacks both the cell’s main control center (nucleus) and its energy generators (mitochondria). This two-pronged attack helps overcome common resistance methods that cancer cells usually use to survive traditional treatments.
- Overcoming resistance in advanced models (P18.01.A): Tests using advanced laboratory and animal models – including treatment-resistant tumor types – showed that PDCs can overcome major resistance mechanisms in GB, including unmethylated MGMT.
Oncopeptides is a Swedish biotech company focusing on research, development and commercialization of targeted therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers.
The company uses its proprietary Peptide Drug Conjugate platform (PDC) to develop compounds that rapidly and selectively deliver cytotoxic agents into cancer cells. Its flagship drug is currently being commercialized in Europe with partnership agreements for South Korea, the Middle East and Africa and elsewhere.
Oncopeptides is also developing several new compounds based on its two proprietary technology platforms PDC and SPiKE.
The company was founded in 2000, has about 70 employees with operations in Sweden, Germany, Austria, Spain and Italy. Oncopeptides is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm with the ticker ONCO.
