HOPE BIOSCIENCES announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize nuc-gemcitabine (APTA-12/HOPE-888) through a licensing agreement with AptaBio Therapeutics. nuc-Gemcitabine consists of Antisoma's AS1411, a clinically-tested DNA aptamer against surface nucleolin found on many cancer cells, and dFdCMP, an activated form of gemcitabine. Unlike ADCs (antibody drug conjugates) or SMDCs (small molecule drug conjugates), which require 'linker' conjugation of the cytotoxic payload to the drug, nuc-gemcitabine is created by incorporating a single activated gemcitabine molecule in lieu of a thymidine molecule during the one-step solid phase synthesis of the DNA aptamer. Clinical trials in over 80 cancer patients showed AS1411 to have modest anti-cancer activity and a favorable safety profile. nuc-Gemcitabine is 100-1,000x more potent compared to AS1411 or conventional gemcitabine (Gemzar®) in pre-clinical studies. Composition of matter patent has been granted in major countries, including the United States.