Myosin’s nanomotor protein-targeted therapy for brain cancer backed with USD 2m Florida grant

Jupiter, Florida-based Myosin Therapeutics has been awarded a USD 2 million grant from the Casey DeSantis Florida Cancer Innovation Fund to support its Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating MT-125 in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The Myosin Therapeutics STAR-GBM trial represents the first clinical evaluation of the company’s lead oncology candidate, a small molecule targeting molecular nanomotor proteins in tumor cells. The award, issued through the Florida Department of Health, will fund clinical trial activities at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville.

What the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund grant supports

The Casey DeSantis cancer fund operates as a statewide initiative under the Florida Department of Health, directing capital toward cancer therapy development and early-stage biotechnology companies operating within the state. Myosin Therapeutics was selected based on what the fund characterized as the scientific innovation and clinical potential of MT-125. The USD 2 million Florida Cancer Innovation Fund grant is earmarked specifically for the STAR-GBM trial rather than general corporate operations, tying the funding directly to clinical execution.

The fund’s stated objectives include strengthening Florida’s life sciences ecosystem and accelerating the translation of laboratory research into patient-facing therapies.

MT-125 inhibits non-muscle myosin II, impairing cytoskeletal contractility required for tumor cell invasion and proliferation. The resulting mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress drive dependency on PDGFR signaling, supporting combination strategies with targeted kinase inhibitors. From a regulatory standpoint, MT-125 has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for malignant gliomas and Fast Track Designation for glioblastoma.

The STAR-GBM trial is structured as a Phase I/II study. The Phase I portion will assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of MT-125 in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, generating data intended to inform dose selection for the Phase II expansion cohort. The trial is being conducted in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, and all three of Mayo Clinic’s US clinical research units are participating in the study, though the Florida campus serves as a primary site supported by this particular grant.

Glioblastoma remains among the most treatment-resistant solid tumors, with a median overall survival of approximately 15 months under the current standard of care. New therapeutic approaches in this space have faced a high failure rate in clinical development, making any first-in-human study in GBM a consequential data-generating event for both the sponsor and the broader neuro-oncology field.

Beyond glioblastoma, Myosin Therapeutics MT-125 is being developed for acute myeloid leukemia and pancreatic cancer, though the STAR-GBM trial is the first clinical program to enter human testing. The glioblastoma treatment Phase I/II study will therefore generate the initial human safety and pharmacokinetic dataset for the compound, with implications for the broader MT-125 development program across multiple tumor types.