Conduit Pharmaceuticals Announces New Addition to its Autoimmune Pipeline

Conduit Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently announced the filing of two new patent applications relating to its lead clinical candidate, AZD1656, a HK-4 glucokinase activator licensed from AstraZeneca targeting a broad spectrum of autoimmune disorders.

The patent applications include a novel composition of matter filing for CDT1656, the newly introduced asset in Conduit’s portfolio. CDT1656 combines AZD1656 with a second compound whose mechanism of action plays a critical role in the progression of autoimmune disorders and has shown potential across a range of conditions. This combination provides an expansion to Conduit’s pipeline, creating an innovative addition to the Company’s autoimmune portfolio. Conduit believes that the development of CDT1656 has the potential to expand the market opportunity for the Company across a broader range of autoimmune conditions and patient subsets further strengthening its strategic position.

These filings reinforce Conduit’s commitment to building valuable Intellectual Property (IP) across its portfolio, particularly with assets that can be combined with existing therapies to offer enhanced treatment solutions. As part of its broader strategy, Conduit intends to create additional IP combinations to maximize the future licensing value of its assets. Furthermore, Conduit aims to strategically position itself to capture market share for products with expiring patents or IP vulnerabilities in the near term, ensuring its portfolio is well-positioned to drive both innovation and commercial success.

The autoimmune disease therapeutics market size was estimated to be $214.54 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.90% to reach $339.00 billion by 2030. CDT1656 has the potential to unlock significant market opportunities, offering expanded treatment options and positioning the company for further growth in this rapidly evolving sector.

“The filing of these two new patents reflects our dedication at Conduit to maximizing our IP portfolio and highlights the strength of research and development at our Cambridge, UK laboratory,” said Dr. David Tapolczay, Chief Executive Officer at Conduit. “By securing exclusive rights to CDT1656, a combination of AZD1656 and a second compound which offers additional autoimmune benefits, we are positioning Conduit for future licensing opportunities and market growth. These developments demonstrate our commitment to driving value through strategic IP creation and capitalizing on untapped opportunities in the sector.”

Conduit is a multi-asset, clinical-stage, disease-agnostic life science company delivering an efficient model for compound development. Conduit both acquires and funds the development of Phase 2-ready assets and then seeks an exit through third-party license deals following successful clinical trials. Led by a highly experienced team of pharmaceutical executives including Dr. David Tapolczay and Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, this novel approach is a departure from the traditional pharma/biotech business model of taking assets through regulatory approval.