The CellEKT technology was developed by Oncode Researcher and Omivera CEO Joel Rüegger and colleagues in the lab of Oncode Investigator Mario van der Stelt (Leiden University), and validated in collaboration with partners including Roche and Oncode Accelerator. The investment marks an important step in developing this breakthrough technology for broad use in cancer drug development.

CellEKT (Cellular Endogenous Kinase Targeting) is a new technology that helps researchers see how cancer drugs interact with their targets inside living cells. Many modern cancer drugs aim at proteins called kinases, which play a central role in how cells grow and communicate. However, because the human body contains more than 500 kinases that are often very similar, it is difficult to design drugs that hit only the intended target. As a result, unwanted side effects or reduced effectiveness are often discovered late in development.

CellEKT helps solve this problem by measuring how selective drug candidates are directly in cells, rather than only in simplified lab tests. The platform uses specially designed molecular probes combined with advanced mass spectrometry to map how drug candidates bind across a wide range of kinases. This gives a more realistic and predictive picture than traditional biochemical screening methods.

In joint studies, CellEKT was used to test clinically used kinase inhibitors, where the cellular measurements proved significantly more predictive of clinical outcomes than conventional approaches.

Omivera is continuing its collaboration with Roche and is expanding the platform toward more biologically relevant systems such as organoids and in vivo mouse models. The technology is also being extended beyond kinases to support broader drug discovery applications.

Omivera will operate as a contract research organization (CRO), entering the global kinase screening market, estimated at approximately $350 million. Its service-based model offers flexible collaboration formats for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. By providing more reliable selectivity data early in the development process, the platform helps partners identify promising drug candidates faster and reduce costly late-stage failures. The seed investment from UNIIQ will support further platform development, commercial rollout, and expansion of Omivera’s services to pharmaceutical partners worldwide.

Impact on Economy

The creation and development of Omivera reflects Oncode Institute’s mission to translate fundamental cancer research into real-world applications. From early scientific discovery in an Oncode lab to technology validation with industry partners and venture support through Oncode Accelerator, CellEKT represents a full innovation pathway from bench to market. With its broad relevance for pharmaceutical drug discovery and its potential to improve the precision and safety of targeted therapies, the platform delivers both scientific and economic impact, accelerating better treatments for patients.