1Up Therapeutics

1Up Therapeutics is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company based in Frederick, Maryland, focused on developing a novel class of small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of aggressive solid tumors. The company's lead candidate, Up284, targets Rpn13 (also known as ADRM1), a proteasome ubiquitin receptor that is frequently overexpressed in cancers such as glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer. By inhibiting Rpn13, Up284 induces the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins, triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal tissues. The company has successfully completed a pre-IND meeting with the FDA for Up284 in ovarian cancer and is advancing toward an IND submission planned for 2026. 1Up Therapeutics' technology is supported by significant SBIR funding from the National Cancer Institute and originated from research collaborations with Johns Hopkins University.