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The therapy inhibited up to 97% of pancreatic cancer cells and nearly 90% of colorectal cancer cells.
By Shula Rosen
Israel-based Silexion Therapeutics has released new preclinical findings suggesting that its experimental therapy may hold promise against some of the most challenging-to-treat cancers.
The company announced Thursday that its RNA interference drug, SIL204, showed powerful activity in laboratory tests.
The therapy inhibited up to 97% of pancreatic cancer cells and nearly 90% of colorectal cancer cells.
Perhaps most significant, the results included the first reported evidence of activity against the KRAS Q61H mutation in human cancer cells, a target that has long resisted effective treatment.
“These findings provide compelling evidence of SIL204’s potent activity against multiple KRAS mutations across different cancer types,” said Ilan Hadar, Silexion’s chairman and chief executive officer in a press release.
KRAS mutations are among the most common oncogenic drivers in human cancers. They play a central role in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers—three of the deadliest forms of the disease.
The Israeli company noted that SIL204 has now demonstrated activity against all three types in preclinical studies, raising hopes it may one day be used as a broad therapy across KRAS-driven tumors.
Previous research had already shown SIL204’s effectiveness in lung cancer cell lines. The latest results build on that progress and provide a stronger rationale for moving forward with human trials.
Silexion said it plans to begin a Phase 2/3 clinical study in 2026, focusing on patients with solid tumors driven by KRAS mutations. The trial is expected to test both intratumoral and systemic delivery methods.
While the data remain limited to preclinical models, the results highlight potential progress in a field where advances are urgently needed. Patients with pancreatic and colorectal cancers, in particular, often face limited treatment options and poor survival rates.
For the Israeli biotech, the findings represent a critical step, positioning SIL204 for future development. Though many challenges remain before the therapy can reach patients, the new data offer cautious optimism that a small company may be making strides in tackling some of the toughest cancers.
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