Insilico Medicine and Atossa Therapeutics Publish AI-Driven Study in Nature Scientific Reports Identifying (Z)-Endoxifen as a Potential Therapeutic Candidate for Glioblastoma
Atossa Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ATOS) and Insilico Medicine published a joint AI-driven study in Nature Scientific Reports on Dec 2, 2025 identifying (Z)-endoxifen as a potential therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma (GBM).
Rhea-AI Summary
Atossa Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ATOS) and Insilico Medicine published a joint AI-driven study in Nature Scientific Reports on Dec 2, 2025 identifying (Z)-endoxifen as a potential therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma (GBM).
The study used Insilico's PandaOmics across >900 cancer indications and multi-omic methods, ranked GBM as a top opportunity, found >1,400 shared genes reversed by endoxifen, and reported in vitro suppression of GBM cell proliferation exceeding high-dose temozolomide plus tolerable in vivo dosing. Insilico also cited 20 preclinical nominations with a 12–18 month average turnaround.
Positive
- AI screening ranked GBM among top indications from >900 evaluated
- >1,400 genes shared between GBM tumors and endoxifen-treated cells
- In vitro endoxifen suppressed GBM proliferation more than high-dose temozolomide
- In vivo dosing of endoxifen was reported as well tolerated
- Insilico nominated 20 preclinical candidates with 12–18 month average turnaround
Negative
- Findings are limited to preclinical in vitro and in vivo data; no human clinical efficacy reported
- Report notes substantial unpublished collaborative work, indicating early-stage development
Details
News Market Reaction – ATOS
On Dec 2, the day this news came out, ATOS closed 5.65% below the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Dec 2 session.
Key Figures
- GBM 5-year survival
- roughly 4%
- Background prognosis for glioblastoma multiforme in adults
- Cancer indications screened
- more than 900
- PandaOmics evaluation of oncology indications for endoxifen
- Shared genes identified
- more than 1,400
- Genes shared between GBM tumors and endoxifen-treated cells
- Preclinical candidates
- 20 candidates
- Insilico nominations from 2021–2024
- Turnaround to PCC
- 12–18 months
- Average time from project start to preclinical candidate nomination
- Molecules per program
- 60–200 molecules
- Number synthesized and tested per Insilico program
Historical Context
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USPTO granted a broad U.S. patent with 100 claims for (Z)-endoxifen.
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FDA Type C feedback clarified expedited development paths for (Z)-endoxifen.
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AI-driven Nature paper identified (Z)-endoxifen as a GBM candidate with strong preclinical signals.
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(Z)-endoxifen highlighted for DMD and carrier patients based on mechanistic hypothesis work.
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Q3 2025 results showed higher operating expenses and outlined IND and trial plans.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
glioblastoma multiforme medical
multi-omics medical
transcriptomic integration medical
single-cell sequencing medical
protein–protein interaction networks technical
apoptosis medical
in vitro medical
in vivo medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The publication highlights progress in understanding glioblastoma, an aggressive primary brain tumor with a five-year survival rate of roughly
(Z)-Endoxifen, already clinically active in hormone-resistant breast cancer and known to act through both estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent mechanisms, has long been considered a promising molecule for broader oncology applications, but has not been systematically explored in GBM. Using PandaOmics, researchers evaluated more than 900 cancer indications with weighted transcriptomic signatures from endoxifen-treated datasets. PandaOmics combined differential expression, pathway enrichment, protein–protein interaction networks, mechanistic NLP, and disease unmet-need modeling, ultimately ranking GBM among one of the highest-opportunity indications.
AI-driven analyses identified more than 1,400 genes shared between GBM tumors and endoxifen-treated cells, revealing strong reversal of biological programs that drive tumor growth and treatment resistance. Endoxifen was predicted to counteract pathways associated with uncontrolled proliferation, inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and aggressive tumor behavior. Single-cell sequencing further pinpointed key malignant-cell genes linked to poor survival and aggressive subtypes, all of which were downregulated by endoxifen.
"This collaboration with Insilico Medicine provides a whole new indication in which we might explore the utility of endoxifen, and potentially significant new opportunities to address an extremely underserved set of cancer patients," said Steven Quay, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Atossa Therapeutics. "Most of our joint projects have focused on advancing women's health, but this study allowed us to extend our work into glioblastoma, a disease with an urgent and unmet need, and not unlike other highly ranked indications, including but not limited to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and multiple gynecologic-related cancers for which (Z)-Endoxifen may have excellent therapeutic outcomes. The results of our collaboration with Insilico highlight how AI-enabled discovery can uncover entirely new opportunities for a well-characterized molecule like endoxifen."
Laboratory validation closely matched the computational predictions. In vitro, (Z)-endoxifen significantly suppressed GBM cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, demonstrating greater cytotoxic activity than high-dose temozolomide and showing enhanced effects in combination. In vivo studies confirmed that endoxifen was well tolerated across all doses. Together, the multi-omic analyses and experimental findings highlight endoxifen as a promising therapeutic candidate for GBM and showcase how AI-powered discovery can reveal new opportunities for drug repurposing and cancer treatment innovation.
"Atossa is deeply committed to scientific leadership in the prevention and treatment of high risk breast cancers, and Insilico is honored to collaborate with the company to advance genuine innovation and expand indications across different areas of oncology," said Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine. "This publication represents one of the early fruits of our joint research, and much of our collaborative work remains unpublished. We are hopeful that these efforts will ultimately translate into meaningful therapeutic programs."
Harnessing state-of-the-art AI and automation technologies, Insilico has significantly improved the efficiency of preclinical drug development. While traditional early-stage drug discovery typically requires 3 to 6 years, from 2021 to 2024 Insilico nominated 20 preclinical candidates, achieving an average turnaround - from project initiation to preclinical candidate (PCC) nomination - of just 12 to 18 months per program, with only 60 to 200 molecules synthesized and tested in each program.
About Insilico Medicine
Insilico Medicine, a leading and global AI-driven biotech company, utilizes its proprietary Pharma.AI platform and cutting-stage automated laboratory to accelerate drug discovery and advance innovations in life sciences research. By integrating AI and automation technologies and deep in-house drug discovery capabilities, Insilico is delivering innovative drug solutions for unmet needs including fibrosis, oncology, immunology, pain, and obesity and metabolic disorders. Additionally, Insilico extends the reach of Pharma.AI across diverse industries, such as advanced materials, agriculture, nutritional products and veterinary medicine.
For more information, please visit www.insilico.com.
About Atossa Therapeutics
Atossa Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATOS) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for significant unmet needs in breast cancer. Atossa's strategy emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, focusing resources on programs and data packages that can enable future regulatory submissions and potential commercialization.
For more information, visit www.atossatherapeutics.com and refer to Atossa's filings with the
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SOURCE Atossa Therapeutics Inc
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