DeuterOncology

What DeuterOncology does

DeuterOncology NV is a private, clinical-stage biotech founded in September 2020 by Dr. Timothy Perera and headquartered in Liege, Belgium. The company develops deuterated small-molecule kinase inhibitors for MET-driven cancers, with a lead asset, DO-2, in Phase I clinical development (EudraCT 2022-001681-35) for non-small cell lung cancer patients harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations and/or MET amplification. A second asset, DO-1 (formerly JNJ-38877618/OMO-1), is a selective MET/OCT-2 inhibitor previously tested by Janssen. Worldwide rights to DO-2 (outside greater China) were in-licensed from OCTIMET Oncology NV, which had originally licensed the molecule from Janssen Pharmaceutica in 2017.

The company's core technology is a deuteration platform that replaces metabolically labile hydrogen atoms with deuterium, exploiting the kinetic deuterium isotope effect (deuterium-carbon bonds are 6-10x more stable than carbon-hydrogen bonds) to reduce metabolic liability, lower toxicity, and extend efficacious plasma exposure at lower doses. DO-2 also forms an active metabolite that engages an alternative kinase in the RAS pathway, intended to overcome or delay resistance to MET inhibition. Reported Phase I data on 28-29 evaluable patients showed 100% tumor shrinkage in MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC patients, no Grade 4 adverse events, and a peripheral edema rate of approximately 5% versus 62-82% for approved MET inhibitors; PK data demonstrated 2-5x exposure relative to non-deuterated comparators. A CMC/GMP manufacturing lot for DO-2 has been approved by regulatory authorities.

DeuterOncology is pre-revenue and monetizes through drug development and out-licensing rather than direct sales. It has raised approximately €6.13M to date (a €5.65M Series A in January 2023 from Newton Biocapital, Noshaq, and InvestSud Tech, plus a €478,000 SPW Win4Company grant in April 2023) and has established a strategic collaboration with Radiomics to develop an AI-based imaging biomarker as a potential companion diagnostic. In May 2026, Pathos AI acquired a majority stake to advance DO-2, using its Foundry platform to support oncology asset development. The go-to-market is structured around multi-country academic clinical trial sites (Belgium, France, the Netherlands) and an expected future licensing partnership with a major pharmaceutical company.

Name

DeuterOncology

Legal name

DeuterOncology NV

Website

https://deuteroncology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DeuterOncology NV is a clinical-stage Belgian biotech developing deuterated MET kinase inhibitors, led by DO-2 in Phase I trials for NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations and MET amplification, targeting licensing deals with major pharma for commercialization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Targeted Oncology Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Clinical Development (Phase I–III Trial Design & Execution) (HLAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lead Optimization & Preclinical Candidate Selection (HLAIALAB)

Keywords

• Deuterated kinase inhibitors
• MET kinase inhibitors
• Lung cancer therapeutics
• Targeted cancer therapy
• Oncology drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Geel

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Drug Development & Licensing: Pre-revenue clinical stage biotech company. Developing MET kinase inhibitors through clinical trials with the goal of obtaining regulatory approval and commercializing through licensing partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DeuterOncology is a clinical-stage biotech developing deuterated small-molecule MET kinase inhibitors for targeted lung cancer therapy. Its lead product DO-2 is a brain-penetrant, highly selective third-generation MET kinase inhibitor in which metabolically labile hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium to reduce metabolic liability, enable lower efficacious doses, and form an active metabolite that targets an alternative kinase in the RAS pathway to help overcome resistance. The company is currently running Phase I clinical trials in NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations and MET amplification across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, with the secondary asset DO-1 positioned as a selective MET/OCT-2 inhibitor; future commercialization is planned via licensing partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies.

Product overview

DeuterOncology is a clinical-stage biotech company developing a portfolio of deuterated MET kinase inhibitors for targeted cancer therapy. The company has two core products: DO-2 (lead product, third-generation deuterated MET kinase inhibitor in Phase I trials) and DO-1 (highly selective MET kinase inhibitor with OCT-2 inhibition). The company's differentiation strategy centers on deuteration technology, replacing hydrogen with deuterium atoms to reduce metabolic liabilities and improve tolerability, allowing for lower efficacious doses. DO-2 targets NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations and/or MET amplification, while also exploring combinations with EGFR inhibitors and other advanced solid cancers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DO-2 DO-2 is DeuterOncology's lead product—a third-generation, re-engineered, highly selective, brain-penetrant deuterated MET kinase inhibitor designed as a potential 'best in class' targeted therapy for MET-driven lung cancer (NSCLC patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutations and/or MET amplification). Replacing metabolically labile hydrogen with deuterium reduces metabolic liability and provides 2-5x higher drug exposure at low doses, while the active metabolite binds to an alternative kinase in the RAS pathway to help overcome or delay resistance. Currently in Phase I clinical trials; for investigational use by oncologists treating NSCLC patients via academic medical center trial sites.
• DO-1 DO-1 is a highly selective small molecule inhibitor of the MET kinase that also inhibits organic cation transporter-2 (OCT-2). Formerly known as JNJ-38877618 or OMO-1, it was initially tested in a healthy volunteer study by JNJ. Preclinical data shows DO-1 can induce vascular normalisation, reduce tumor acidification, and increase DNA adduct formation in combination with chemotherapeutics such as gemcitabine and cisplatin. Targeted at oncology researchers and developers in combination cancer therapy settings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% tumor shrinkage in all evaluable MET exon 14 skipping NSCLC patients
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RadiomicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2023DeuterOncology partnered with Radiomics, a Liege-based biotech, for the development and validation of an AI-based imaging biomarker as a potential companion diagnostic for DO-2. This partnership was funded by a SPW Win4Company grant of 478,000 EUR to optimize personalized cancer therapy.
• Janssen PharmaceuticacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2017Janssen Pharmaceutica (J&J) originally licensed the MET inhibitor molecule to OCTIMET in 2017. The molecule (formerly JNJ-38877618 or OMO-1) was subsequently developed by OCTIMET and then DeuterOncology.
• OCTIMET Oncology NVcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDeuterOncology in-licensed worldwide rights (outside of greater China) for DO-2 from OCTIMET Oncology NV. The molecule was originally licensed from Janssen Pharmaceutica in 2017 to OCTIMET.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Merck KGaA: Markets Tepmetko (tepotinib), an approved MET kinase inhibitor for NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations. Directly competes with DeuterOncology's DO-2 in the same patient population with a comparable mechanism but lacking deuteration, providing a benchmark for the tolerability improvements DO-2 claims to deliver.
• Novartis: Markets Tabrecta (capmatinib), an approved MET kinase inhibitor for METex14 NSCLC and a key competitor to DO-2. Novartis is a global oncology leader with the commercial infrastructure to anchor the MET inhibitor market that DeuterOncology hopes to disrupt with a better-tolerated deuterated alternative.
• HUTCHMED: Develops savolitinib, a selective MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor being studied in NSCLC and other MET-driven tumors, including combinations with EGFR TKI osimertinib. HUTCHMED is a comparable targeted-oncology peer with MET-focused assets competing for the same biomarker-defined NSCLC population.
• Mirati Therapeutics: Targeted oncology company developing precision medicines against oncogenic drivers including MET (formerly partnered assets now under Bristol Myers Squibb). Comparable as a biomarker-driven, kinase-inhibitor-focused oncology biotech with similar development philosophy and competitive overlap in MET-altered tumors.

Emerging players

• Concert Pharmaceuticals: Pioneered deuterated small molecule drug development (deuteration of approved drugs to improve PK/tolerability). Shares DeuterOncology's foundational deuteration science platform and offers a direct analog for the underlying technology, even though its therapeutic focus has been broader than oncology.

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: Major oncology incumbent with a deep lung cancer franchise (Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Enhertu) and significant MET pathway interest through combinations. A likely strategic acquirer or partner for DeuterOncology given its MET/EGFR combination strategy and global commercial reach in NSCLC.
• Pfizer: Global oncology leader with an extensive kinase-inhibitor portfolio and significant NSCLC presence through drugs like Lorbrena and Braftovi. Represents a typical large-pharma counterparty for a deuterated MET inhibitor licensing deal or acquisition.
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): Originally licensed the JNJ-38877618 (OMO-1) MET inhibitor molecule to OCTIMET in 2017, from which DeuterOncology in-licensed DO-2. Janssen retains historical knowledge of the program and remains a natural strategic counterparty given founder Dr. Timothy Perera's prior leadership role there.
• Eli Lilly: Major oncology player with an active kinase inhibitor portfolio (Verzenio, Jaypirca) and a track record of in-licensing clinical-stage oncology assets. Comparable as a potential acquirer/partner for DeuterOncology's targeted MET inhibitor and a peer for valuation benchmarking of clinical-stage biotech acquisitions.
• Bristol Myers Squibb: Global oncology incumbent with a strong kinase-inhibitor franchise (Opdivo, Yervoy, Reblozyl, Augtyro) and recently expanded its MET-pathway footprint via the Mirati Therapeutics acquisition. Comparable as a large-pharma counterparty that could license, partner, or acquire DO-2 for NSCLC combination strategies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deuteroncology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DeuterOncology