Posted on: September 24, 2026
By Chase Bussell, busselld@sc.edu
Groundbreaking cancer therapies don't happen in isolation; they are built through collaboration. For more than a decade, the University of South Carolina and Senex Biotechnology have partnered to advance the next generation of cancer therapies. By combining USC's research expertise with Senex's drug development capabilities, the partnership has promoted the discovery of promising treatments that could improve outcomes for patients battling some of the world's most aggressive cancers.
The collaboration began in 2011 when renowned cancer researcher Dr. Igor Roninson joined the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy as a SmartState Endowed Chair and relocated Senex Biotechnology's research operations to Columbia. Since then, scientists from USC and Senex have pursued a shared mission: developing targeted therapies for ovarian, breast, prostate and colon cancers, as well as childhood cancers and leukemia, by addressing one of cancer's greatest challenges — its ability to adapt and become resistant to treatment.
“Moving Senex from New York to South Carolina turned out to be surprisingly beneficial for developing Senex’s drug discovery and development program, thanks primarily to the multifaceted cooperation and support from USC,” said Roninson. “Senex’s collaboration with USC scientists enabled a multidisciplinary approach to the prevention of drug resistance and metastasis. The chemistry expertise at the USC College of Pharmacy has been instrumental in the discovery of SNX631-6, our current clinical candidate that specifically inhibits CDK8/19, the enzymes that enable cancers to adapt to therapy and grow in different tissues.”
While many cancer therapies are initially successful, tumors often develop resistance through a process known as transcriptional reprogramming, in which cancer cells alter gene expression to survive treatment, spread throughout the body and become increasingly difficult to treat.
Researchers at USC and Senex are working to interrupt transcriptional reprogramming by developing highly selective inhibitors that target CDK8 and CDK19, proteins that help cancer cells adapt and spread. Rather than attacking healthy and cancerous cells alike, this approach is designed to prevent tumors from activating the genetic pathways that drive drug resistance and metastasis.
If successful, these therapies could improve treatment for several aggressive cancers while reducing many of the side effects associated with conventional cancer therapies. Early research has shown encouraging results, demonstrating that CDK8/19 inhibitors can significantly suppress tumor growth while showing the potential to improve survival outcomes. Because these proteins play a much smaller role in healthy cells, the approach may also reduce many of the side effects associated with traditional cancer treatments and improve patients’ quality of life. While additional research and clinical trials are still needed, these findings represent an important step toward developing safer and more effective therapies for cancers that remain difficult to treat.
“SNX631-6 is extremely potent and specific in its inhibition of CDK8/19. This combination of potency and specificity makes SNX631-6 the best CDK8/19 inhibitor ever discovered. We measured the binding of SNX631-6 against 451 known kinases at 200 times the dose that effectively inhibits CDK8/19. SNX631-6 is perfectly specific,” said Dennis Goldberg, CEO of Senex. “The result of this specificity is that SNX631-6 is remarkably well tolerated. We have used it to inhibit CDK8/19 in mice for 300 days, half of their life expectancy, without any side effects, while making the tumors grow more slowly or even disappear. We are exploring multiple formulations of SNX631-6 as a new treatment modality for currently incurable cancers.”
Turning discoveries like these into therapies requires more than scientific research; it also requires a clear path to commercialization. The University of South Carolina's Technology Commercialization Office has been instrumental in helping establish that pathway. Rather than following a traditional licensing model, the office helped structure a collaborative intellectual property agreement that allows USC and Senex to jointly develop and co-own innovations resulting from their shared research. That collaboration has resulted in a robust portfolio of patents focused on cancer therapies, reflecting years of joint research and providing a strong intellectual property foundation for advancing promising discoveries toward clinical development and commercialization.
“The ultimate goal of technology transfer is to help move discoveries from the laboratory to the market so they can benefit the public, which is consistent with the mission of the University of South Carolina,” said Chase Kasper, deputy director of the Office of Economic Engagement. “Our partnership with Senex demonstrates how strong collaboration, coupled with a clear commercialization pathway, can help advance promising cancer research toward therapies that could give patients better treatment options and, ultimately, better outcomes.”
The Technology Commercialization Office, which is housed within the Office of Economic Engagement, also provides expertise in intellectual property protection, patent strategy and commercialization planning, helping ensure promising discoveries can continue advancing toward clinical development and, ultimately, benefit patients.
“The work being done through the USC and Senex partnership has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the fight against some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers,” said Stephen Cutler, vice president for economic development. “By combining USC’s research expertise with Senex’s drug development capabilities, we are helping advance promising discoveries toward new therapies that could ultimately improve treatment options, outcomes and quality of life for patients.”
The partnership between USC and Senex illustrates the power of bringing together academic research, industry expertise and technology commercialization. By combining their strengths, the two organizations are advancing promising therapies with the potential to improve treatment outcomes for patients while reinforcing USC's commitment to translating research into real-world impact.