Canji

Canji was a pioneering biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company specialized in using adenoviral vectors to deliver the p53 tumor suppressor gene to cancer cells, aiming to trigger programmed cell death in tumors where p53 was mutated or deleted. Its lead program, SCH 58500, underwent extensive clinical testing across multiple solid tumor indications, including ovarian and colorectal cancers. Founded in San Diego, Canji was acquired by Schering-Plough in 1996 for approximately $54.5 million. The acquisition allowed Schering-Plough to establish a significant presence in the emerging field of gene therapy and integrate Canji's adenoviral platform into its oncology pipeline.