Objective
Step Pharma is developing dencatistat (STP938), a first-in-class CTPS1 inhibitor that selectively targets CTPS2-null cancers, where tumour cells rely exclusively on CTPS1 for DNA synthesis. This represents a novel tumour-agnostic precision medicine approach that spares healthy tissue, reduces toxicity, and is suitable for oral administration. The current project focuses on advancing dencatistat in gynaecologic cancers, particularly platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian and endometrial tumours, which remain underserved despite high incidence and poor prognosis.
The proposal will deliver a Phase 1b clinical trial in 10 biomarker-selected endometrial cancer patients to establish safety and early efficacy, using a validated CTPS2-loss assay. This trial follows a Phase 1a dose-escalation study already underway in ovarian cancer. If successful, a Phase 2 study will be launched with two cohorts (40 biomarker-positive, 40 biomarker-negative) to validate the predictive power of CTPS2-loss and support broader solid tumour expansion. This biomarker-guided strategy will help identify patients most likely to benefit, ensuring cost-efficient clinical development and better outcomes.
The EIC grant (€2.5M) will fund critical Phase 1b activities, including patient recruitment, biomarker screening, and regulatory preparation. The requested equity (€10M) will enable Phase 2 execution across ovarian and endometrial cancers. While €37.7M in Series C1 funding has been secured for the ovarian trials, EIC support is essential to unlock the remaining €25M (Series C2) to include the endometrial trial and avoid critical delays in development. This project will lay the foundation for a European-led gynaecologic oncology franchise, with broader application across CTPS2-null solid tumours.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences health sciences personalized medicine
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC-ACC - HORIZON EIC Accelerator
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
75272 Paris
France
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.