One-carbon Therapeutics

One-carbon Therapeutics is a Swedish, clinical-stage biotech founded in 2020, focused on developing novel small-molecule cancer therapies. The company's core innovation is targeting the one-carbon metabolism pathway, specifically the overexpressed enzymes MTHFD1 and MTHFD2, to induce cancer cell death via thymidine depletion and disruption of DNA repair. With its lead candidate TH9619 in a Phase 1/2 trial (ODIN study) for advanced solid tumors and a recent SEK 153 million financing, the company is positioned to advance a potentially first-in-class precision oncology asset. Its strategic collaboration with Tempus aims to bolster biomarker and patient stratification strategies.

Targeting the one-carbon metabolism pathway, specifically developing dual small-molecule inhibitors of the enzymes MTHFD1 and MTHFD2 to disrupt nucleotide synthesis and the DNA damage response (DDR) in cancer cells.

The competitive landscape in targeting one-carbon metabolism is emerging but not yet crowded with late-stage clinical assets. However, several companies and academic groups are investigating enzymes in folate and nucleotide metabolism. One-carbon's primary competition may come from other DDR inhibitors and targeted therapies, but its specific dual MTHFD1/2 inhibition provides a distinct mechanism. The partnership with Tempus is a strategic move to build a defensible position through proprietary biomarker data.