King's College London has developed an experimental drug that improves the response of chemotherapy-resistant tumors by targeting a tumor defense protein.

The drug KCL-HO-1i developed by researchers at King's College London has the potential to transform treatments for chemotherapy-resistant cancers. It works by neutralizing the protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which helps tumors protect themselves from chemotherapy and immune system attacks. Preclinical tests have shown that the drug can make tumors more responsive to chemotherapy, even in previously resistant cases. Designed for oral administration, KCL-HO-1i could begin human clinical trials in two years, with the potential to expand its applications in oncology.