Scaling trials for drug combinations.
Many diseases, including cancer, are too complex for or evolve resistance to single drugs and benefit from combination therapy. Breakthroughs in biology and AI keep producing new therapies. Each one adds to an exponentially growing number of combinations worth testing.
Informed by large human and preclinical datasets, Oncko is building ComboTrials to search that space and find the combinations that matter.
The space
Historically intractable.
In 1980 there were 8 drug classes for cancer. Today there are 82, making over 90,000 possible pairs and triples — and that space doubles about every five years.
Registered trial arms (ClinicalTrials.gov) on an 82-class solid-tumor grid; the 1980 panel is literature-sourced on 8 drug classes. Oncko layer illustrative.
People
10 years of scaling combinations.
From Perturb-seq to platform trials. Measuring and modeling combinations at scale. Designing and operating randomized platform trials.
-
2016
Perturb-seq
Dixit, first author · CellScaled CRISPR perturbations including combinations with single-cell RNA readouts.
-
2017–25
MORPHEUS
Grossman, designed and led it at Genentech · JCO abstractRandomized multi-arm platforms across six tumor types, 2017 to 2025.
-
2019
Shuffle-Seq
Dixit, first author · bioRxiv preprintScaled combinatorial genetic-interaction screens.
-
2021
Safety at population scale
Dixit, senior authorModeled combination toxicity across 500,000 UK Biobank participants.
-
2026
Oncko preclinical program
Sproul, preclinical leadScaled in vivo combination testing; initial regimens prioritized.
-
2026
Oncko clinical operations
Tron, trial operationsComboTrials Lung protocol in finalization.
-
2027
ComboTrials Lung
OnckoFirst patient anticipated Q1 2027.
Bill Grossman
Co-founder, Strategic Advisor
Senior leadership at Arcus Biosciences and Gilead.
Alice Shaw
Chair, Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber
NSCLC and drug resistance. Previously global head of translational clinical oncology at Novartis.
Adam Palmer
Professor, UNC
Showed that independent drug action explains most successful combinations.
Luke Gilbert
Professor, Arc Institute
Combination CRISPR screening.
Trials & Partnering
programs.
Trial in a loop
Platform clinical trials designed to scale combination testing. Built for teams exploring new combinations in lung, colorectal or pancreatic cancer.
One protocol, one shared randomized control, one operational team, and a set of prioritized backbones to combine with. A partner arm joins the platform instead of standing up a new trial, which is what shortens the path to human proof.
Interested in partnering?ComboTrials Lung
Second-line (2L) non-small cell lung cancer
-
Real-world human dataComplete
-
Preclinical studiesInitial regimens prioritized
-
Finalizing protocolIn progress
-
First patient dosedAnticipated Q1 2027
-
Initial arm readoutsGated on enrollment
Trial design
Trial armsSame trial architecture, new indication.