ANGELIS Oncology launches, acquires PLX038, and initiates clinical trial in glioblastoma.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — ANGELIS Oncology, Inc. today announced its launch and the acquisition of PLX038 from ProLynx, Inc. The new company, founded by Daniel Santi, M.D., Ph.D., will initially focus on advancing PLX038, now designated ANG038, for central nervous system (CNS) tumors, including singly- and multiply-recurrent glioblastoma where treatment options remain limited.

ANG038 is a long-acting investigational prodrug of SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan and the payload used in Trodelvy. By linking SN-38 to a 40 kDa PEG carrier through controlled-release chemistry, PLX038/ANG038 is designed to provide sustained tumor exposure while reducing high peak drug levels associated with conventional irinotecan therapy. The molecule accumulates in tumors and slowly releases active drug in the tumor over time.

ANGELIS Oncology is prioritizing CNS tumors because ANG038 has demonstrated properties that may be particularly important in these cancers, including tumor-selective penetration across the blood-brain-tumor barrier, prolonged retention within brain tumors, and minimal uptake in normal brain tissue. In preclinical studies, ANG038 showed selective accumulation and antitumor activity in glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and BRCA-deficient breast cancer metastases.

Preclinical findings also suggest that ANG038 may be especially effective in tumors characterized by replication stress, DNA damage signaling, and defects in DNA damage response pathways. In addition to single-agent activity, ANG038 has demonstrated synergy with PARP inhibitors and may be well suited for combination approaches with other DNA damage response-targeted therapies.

Early clinical findings from an ongoing National Cancer Institute study further support continued development. In the Phase I portion of a trial in recurrent primary CNS tumors, ANG038 administered intravenously every three weeks was well tolerated and showed early signs of antitumor activity (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06161519.)

“ANGELIS Oncology was created to advance ANG038 with an initial clear and disciplined focus on patients with CNS tumors who urgently need better treatment options,” said Daniel Santi, M.D., Ph.D., Founder of ANGELIS Oncology, Inc. “By combining the proven antitumor biology of SN-38 with a long-acting tumor-targeting effect, ANG038 has the potential to offer a differentiated approach for glioblastoma and other rare CNS tumors, both as a single agent and potentially in combination with DNA damage response inhibitors.”

About ANGELIS Oncology, Inc.
The company is dedicated to this single-product program with the goal of developing a differentiated long-acting therapy for cancers with unmet medical needs (www.angelisoncology.com).

Daniel Santi
Angelis Oncology, Inc.
contact@angelisoncology.com

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