Continuously Evolving Our NMS Portfolio:
Proven Success, Driven by Ongoing Innovation
Building on our legacy of Oncology expertise, we are advancing innovative
Small Molecule and ADC platforms to drive our strategic focus
Encorafenib
Encorafenib (BRAF)
Encorafenib is a small molecule inhibitor of the BRAF kinase, a key enzyme in the tyrosine kinase/MAPK signaling pathway (TK-RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK), which is often mutated and activated in different tumors, such as melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and others. Encorafenib is a potent BRAF inhibitor for which NMS has licensed enabling IP rights for commercialization. BRAFTOVI® (the brand name for encorafenib) is approved in combination with the MEK inhibitor binimetinib (MEKTOVI®) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation. It is also the first BRAF inhibitor approved in combination with cetuximab (Erbitux®) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation. More recently, the FDA and EMA have approved BRAFTOVI® + MEKTOVI® for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation. A royalty agreement with Blue Owl Capital has been announced in September 2024. Press release
Entrectinib (TRK, ROS)
Entrectinib is a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases TRK A/B/C, ROS1 and ALK, whose activating gene rearrangements drive proliferation in small subsets of different tumor types. Entrectinib was invented and developed into Phase I by NMS, then licensed to Ignyta (San Diego, USA), a company subsequently acquired by Roche. Entrectinib is one of the first drugs approved with an agnostic indication for adult and pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions, independently from the tumor type. It is also approved for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Entrectinib has been specifically designed to efficiently penetrate the blood brain barrier and it is efficacious also in patients with brain metastases, with a good tolerability profile. A royalty agreement with NovaQuest Capital Management has been announced on March 2025. Press release
Itareparib (NMS-293, PARP1)
Itareparib (NMS-293) is a unique, intrinsically targeted PARP1 inhibitor. It is the only clinical stage inhibitor that is PARP1-selective with high potency and non-trapping. Recent, emerging, second generation PARP1-selective trapping inhibitors may have similar bone marrow effects relative to marketed PARP1/2 trapping inhibitors; for example: 11% grade 3 neutropenia at the relevant dose of saruparib (Yap et al AACR 2024) being similar to 9-10% for olaparib (Lynparza USPI)
Since trapping is known to cause toxicity in healthy cells (Hopkins et al MCR 2019, Morice et al Lancet Hem 2021), it is possible that trapping PARP inhibitors will continue to have difficulty combining with DNA-damaging drugs or chemotherapies, as has been the case historically. This limitation of combinations will likely hinder development of trapping PARP inhibitors in therapies beyond BRCA mutations or other types of homologous recombination deficiency. Due to non-trapping, many combinations of DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapies and ADC payloads, have potential for Itareparib beyond BRCA mutation tumors.
Itareparib is brain-penetrant, adding value to its non-trapping, PARP1-selective features since it has potential for brain tumors or tumors bearing brain metastases. Itareparib has completed Phase 1 in a multi-tumor monotherapy study for dose finding (PARPA-293-001, NCT04182516) and is currently in Phase 2 in a high grade glioma study including glioblastoma (GBM) co-dosing with temozolomide (PARPA-293-002, NCT04910022).
Safety findings for Itareparib are unprecedented for a PARP inhibitor with minimal or negligible bone marrow effects and no exposure relationship of bone marrow parameters, with or without chemotherapy as presented in 2023 (Guerts et al, AACR-NCI-EORTC 2023) and 2024 (Mahnke, DDR Summit). Preliminary trends of confirmed anti-tumor responses are encouraging in combination dosing (Mahnke, DDR Summit).
To maximize the full potential of Itareparib, NMS initiated two Phase 1 clinical trials for the relapse setting: one for BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer (PARPA-293-003 NCT06930755) and another for small cell lung cancer (PARPA-293-004 NCT06931626).
Atamparib (PARP7)
Atamparib is the first PARP7 inhibitor to enter clinical development. Originally developed by Ribon Therapeutics and acquired by Nerviano Medical Sciences (NMS) in November 2024, Atamparib expands NMS’s diversified oncology portfolio with a novel small molecule targeting PARP7. This enzyme is upregulated in response to cellular stress and plays a key role in promoting cancer cell survival. By selectively inhibiting PARP7, Atamparib has demonstrated the ability to suppress tumor cell proliferation.
This orally bioavailable and highly selective compound has shown strong potency in preclinical models and has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile, along with early signs of clinical activity in Phase I/II studies (NCT04053673, NCT05127590, JRCT2031210373). Building on the foundational research conducted by Ribon Therapeutics, recent advances in PARP7 biology, and NMS’s deep expertise in PARP family biology, the company initiated a Phase Ib/II trial in early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) adenocarcinoma in China in February 2026.
Onvansertib (PLK1)
Onvansertib is the first orally available, potent and selective inhibitor of the PLK1 kinase, a master regulator of mitotic progression which is overexpressed and activated in proliferating cancer cells. The drug was invented and developed into Phase I by NMS, then licensed to the US Biotech Trovagene/Cardiff Oncology. Clinical development is currently ongoing with promising results in Phase I/II studies in combination, including a Phase Ib/II study with FOLFIRI/bevacizumab for treatment of metastatic KRAS mut CRC. For a comprehensive, up-to-date, Onvansertib overview please refer to the Cardiff Oncology website.
NMS-812 (PERK/GCN2)
NMS-812 is a novel, potent and orally bioavailable dual inhibitor of PERK (PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase) and GCN2 (General Control Nonderepressible 2), with potential for first-in-class in several potential oncology indications. PERK and GCN2 are effectors of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR), a pro-survival pathway exploited by cancer cells to survive stress. The modulation of ISR may potentially overcome drug resistance and offer superior anti-tumoral activity. In addition, NMS-812 also modulates the immune response via direct and indirect mechanisms which may contribute to anti-cancer activity. The first-in-human (FIH) study showed an excellent pharmacokinetic profile allowing daily oral dosing and likely permissive safety for further development. Based on preclinical data and its unique, dual targeting of the two key components of the Integrated Stress Response PERK and GCN2, NMS-812 may represent a novel strategy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), with potential for synergies with other drugs and overcoming drug resistance.