Polish Biotech Ryvu Therapeutics Restructures to Focus on Late-Stage Blood Cancer Trials

Workforce Reduction and Strategic Realignment

Ryvu Therapeutics, a Polish biotechnology company, has announced a significant restructuring effort aimed at concentrating its resources on late-stage clinical trials for its lead blood cancer drug. The company is reducing its workforce by 30%, leaving approximately 200 employees, as part of a strategic reorganization to extend its cash runway into the second half of 2026.

The restructuring comes as Ryvu seeks to prioritize the development of RVU120, a selective CDK8/CDK19 kinase inhibitor targeting both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. The drug is currently involved in three phase 3 studies, including combinations with Jakavi for myelofibrosis and Venclexta for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as well as a monotherapy for lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Financial Strategy and Pipeline Focus

Ryvu's financial position includes approximately 46 million euros ($48.3 million) in cash and equivalents, alongside 22 million euros ($23.1 million) in non-dilutive grant funding. The company's CEO, Paweł Przewięźlikowski, emphasized the need to optimize expenses in light of the current market environment and the company's financial projections.

As part of its renewed focus, Ryvu has canceled a planned phase 2 study of RVU120 in patients with AML or high-risk MDS. Instead, the company aims to accelerate enrollment and generate quality data for its ongoing phase 3 trials in 2025. Additionally, Ryvu will continue to advance its preclinical pipeline, which includes RVU305, a PRMT5 inhibitor targeting multiple solid tumors, and novel antibody-drug conjugates featuring synthetic lethal and immunomodulatory mechanisms.

Industry Partnerships and Future Prospects

Despite the restructuring, Ryvu maintains potential for future revenue through partnerships with prominent pharmaceutical companies. The biotech has collaborations with BioNTech, Exelixis, and Menarini, which could result in milestone payments. These strategic alliances, combined with the company's focus on generating key data for RVU120 and its preclinical pipeline, are expected to support future cash inflows and strengthen Ryvu's position in the competitive oncology drug development landscape.