Rakovina Therapeutics KT-5000AI Program Yields Potent ATR Inhibitor Hits in Early Screening

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Compounds developed through collaboration with Variational AI show targeted activity

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rakovina Therapeutics Inc. (“Rakovina” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: RKV) (FSE: 7JO0), a biopharmaceutical company advancing next-generation cancer therapies through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered drug discovery, today announced meaningful progress in its AI-driven KT-5000AI program, advancing the development of precision ATR (Ataxia Telangiectasia and Rad3-related) inhibitors designed to disrupt the DNA Damage Response pathway in cancer cells.

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Through its collaboration with Variational AI, Rakovina Therapeutics evaluated a vast chemical space of potential molecular structures using artificial intelligence to identify novel compounds designed to selectively inhibit ATR. A subset of these AI-generated candidates has been synthesized and has advanced through initial biological screening, with multiple compounds demonstrating potent ATR inhibition in nanomolar concentration range. The most promising candidates are being prioritized for further characterization and potential development.

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“The progress we’re seeing in the KT-5000AI program highlights the advantage of combining artificial intelligence with modern drug design,” said Dr. Mads Daugaard, Rakovina’s President and Chief Scientific Officer. “We’re particularly encouraged by the number of active compounds emerging from the first wave of screening and look forward to advancing the most promising candidates through further evaluation and development.”

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ATR inhibitors represent a fast-growing class of oncology therapeutics, with the global ATR inhibitor market valued at approximately US $1.24 billion in 2024, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 17.8% through 2033, with forecasts projecting a market size of over US $5.1 billion by 2033 (source: Growth Markets Reports). This growth is fueled by increasing validation of ATR as an oncology target, rising need for therapies addressing replication stress and DNA repair–deficient tumors, and a shift toward personalized, AI-enabled drug development. Rakovina’s KT-5000AI series is well-positioned to capture value in this expanding landscape by delivering next-generation compounds with improved selectivity, potency, and therapeutic index.

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About Rakovina Therapeutics Inc.

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Rakovina Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical research company focused on the development of innovative cancer treatments. Our work is based on unique technologies for targeting the DNA-damage response powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) using the proprietary Deep-Docking™ and Enki™ platforms. By using AI, we can review and optimize drug candidates at a much greater pace than ever before.

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The Company has established a pipeline of distinctive DNA-damage response inhibitors with the goal of advancing one or more drug candidates into human clinical trials in collaboration with pharmaceutical partners.

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Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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Notice Regarding Rakovina Therapeutics Forward-Looking Statements:

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This release includes forward-looking statements regarding the company and its respective business, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the proposed business plan of the company and other statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “is expected,” “expects,” “scheduled,” “intends,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “proposes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events, or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might,” or “will” be taken, occur, or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the company. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, including risks regarding the medical device industry, economic factors, regulatory factors, the equity markets generally, and risks associated with growth and competition.