KuDOS Pharmacology

KuDOS Pharmacology was a UK-based biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule drugs that exploit the DNA damage response (DDR) to treat cancer. Founded in 1997 by Professor Stephen Jackson of the University of Cambridge, the company pioneered the development of PARP inhibitors, most notably olaparib (Lynparza). KuDOS was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2005 for approximately $210 million, serving as the foundation for AstraZeneca's leadership in the DDR therapeutic space. The company's research targeted various enzymes involved in DNA repair, including ATM, ATR, and DNA-PK, to induce synthetic lethality in cancer cells. Its lead asset, olaparib, became the first-in-class PARP inhibitor to receive regulatory approval for multiple oncology indications.