Hado Therapeutics is thrilled to announce the formal appointment of Professor Robert Falconer and Professor Klaus Pors to its core research and translational leadership team. Their joining marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to develop a first-in-class treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of brain cancer.
Professors Falconer and Pors bring a wealth of experience and proven track records in oncology drug discovery and targeted therapeutics, with numerous commercialised technologies and decades of academic-industrial collaboration. They will lead the scientific and translational development of Hado’s flagship GBM programme, applying a novel ‘Double Tap’ therapeutic strategy.
“Glioblastoma is like a fortress—it resists attack and adapts rapidly,” said Dr Harsha Kantamneni, CEO of Hado Therapeutics. “Our approach is a total assault: imagine attacking the castle walls from the outside while simultaneously destroying its internal power supply. That’s what the ‘Double Tap’ strategy achieves—combining direct tumour suppression with disruption of tumour survival mechanisms.”
A Total Assault on Glioblastoma
Hado Therapeutics' proprietary strategy targets glioblastoma on two fronts: • First, by directly blocking tumour growth through selective chemical inhibition. • Second, by boosting the body’s immune defences and interfering with the tumour microenvironment, disrupting its ability to recover and resist treatment. This “double tap” creates a synergistic effect, potentially leading to more durable responses in patients with minimal added toxicity. Early-stage results have shown promise, and the company is advancing the candidate through preclinical development to achieve IND readiness within four years.About Professor Robert Falconer
Professor Falconer is Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford. A registered pharmacist and medicinal chemist with over 25 years’ experience in oncology drug development, he has led translational programmes backed by UKRI and Wellcome Trust and co-founded Incanthera plc. He will oversee the translational arm of Hado’s GBM programme. About Professor Klaus Pors Professor Pors is a chemical biologist and pioneer in tumour-selective therapies, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, and far-red viability probes such as CyTRAK™ and DRAQ9™. He has authored over 100 publications, holds multiple patents, and co-founded Incanthera Ltd. At Hado, he will lead innovation in GBM-targeted drug design.About Hado Therapeutics
Hado Therapeutics Ltd (UK Reg. 12240559), formerly known as Haiku Therapeutics, based at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford. Hado is a UK-based research company specialising in the development of precision medicines for high-risk and under-treated conditions. With core expertise in oncology, haematology, and neurodegeneration, the company is advancing a pipeline of innovative therapeutics that target the underlying biological mechanisms of complex diseases, driven by strong academic and clinical partnerships.Contact:
📩 team@hadotherapeutics.co.uk🌐 www.hadotherapeutics.co.uk
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements. Actual outcomes depend on clinical progress and regulatory approvals.