A novel cancer treatment strategy that enables the targeted degradation of membrane proteins has received funding from the highly competitive European Innovation Council Pathfinder programme. The OutMARCH project aims to make previously “undruggable” cancer proteins accessible, potentially offering new ways to overcome resistance to existing therapies.
The EIC Pathfinder programme is one of the most competitive European grants for high-risk, high-gain research. More than 1000 proposals were submitted, of which only 44 received funding. Within the OutMARCH project, Oncode Institute acted as co-ordinating partner - supporting the project consortia setup strategically and organisationally, and helped to shape the collaboration between academic and industrial partners.
The project is led by Madelon Maurice, Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the Center for Molecular Medicine, UMC Utrecht, in close collaboration with the Oncode Institute. From her laboratory at UMC Utrecht, Maurice studies the molecular mechanisms driving cancer progression and identifies new therapeutic vulnerabilities when current strategies fall short.
OutMARCH brings together international expertise in cancer biology, antibody engineering, AI-based protein design and clinical research. Central to the project is the development of SureTACs: bispecific antibodies designed to selectively induce degradation of cancer-driving surface proteins. This precision approach may provide a more durable and targeted alternative to conventional therapies, which are often limited by resistance and side effects.
Targeting cancer through protein degradation
The project focuses on exploiting MARCH E3 ligases—enzymes capable of marking specific membrane proteins for degradation. By bringing these ligases into close proximity to disease-driving proteins, the team aims to selectively eliminate cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue. Successfully targeting this enzyme class could address major challenges in oncology, including treatment resistance and on-target off-tissue toxicity.
Future impact on cancer treatment and beyond
While still in its early stages, OutMARCH has the potential to transform cancer treatment by targeting proteins that were previously inaccessible. This could pave the way for more personalised and effective therapies.
Madelon Maurice, Oncode Investigator
“Our team is thrilled to work together and unlock the full potential of SureTACs technology. Our high risk–high gain project holds promise for novel cancer treatment strategies by focusing on both precision targeting and overcoming treatment resistance. This approach could help shape the next generation of personalised cancer therapies,”
The team’s long-term ambition is to develop a scalable and modular protein degradation platform applicable beyond cancer, including autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammation, with the potential to progress from laboratory research to future clinical applications.
The role of Oncode Institute
The OutMARCH project has been supported by Oncode Institute from its inception, including patent filing, company formation and continuous translational expertise, ultimately helping to attract substantial investor support. Designed from the outset as an international collaboration, the project required complex alignment across institutions and countries.
Oncode Institute acted as the main coordinator of consortium alignment, navigating legal frameworks across multiple institutes in three countries and finalising the consortium agreements underpinning this work. Within OutMARCH, Oncode Institute serves as co-ordinating partner, providing strategic and organisational support and strengthening collaboration between academic and industrial partners.
Dana Koludrovic, Business Development Manager Oncode Institute
“The EIC Pathfinder OutMARCH project is perfectly aligned with Oncode Institute’s mission. It combines bold, collaborative ideas with active involvement of company partners, maximising the chances of impacting patients’ lives,”
Partners and collaboration
The OutMARCH project brings together a diverse and interdisciplinary team of researchers. The project is led by prof. Madelon Maurice from UMC Utrecht and Oncode Institute and involves key collaborators Dr. Danny Sahtoe (Hubrecht Institute and Oncode Institute), Prof. Florian I. Schmidt (University Hospital Bonn and University of Bonn), Prof. Thorsten Zenz (University of Zurich), and the biotech startup Laigo Bio.
Together, these experts in cancer biology, protein design, antibody development, and clinical research are working to advance the development of SureTACs technology. Through their interdisciplinary collaboration, this innovative approach will be employed to tackle challenging cancer types, including therapy-resistant B-cell lymphomas and gastrointestinal cancers.