NMS Moves to Terminate Cardiff's Sole Onvansertib License

Cardiff Oncology is a San Diego–based clinical-stage biotechnology company whose entire pipeline rests on a single asset: onvansertib, an oral PLK1 inhibitor being evaluated in RAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. The company has no marketed products and generates only modest royalty income — royalty revenues of $41,000 in the first quarter of 2026 — making it wholly dependent on the clinical and commercial success of onvansertib.

The past eighteen months brought genuine clinical momentum. The Phase 2 CRDF-004 trial achieved a confirmed overall response rate of 72.2% in the 30 mg onvansertib plus FOLFIRI/bevacizumab arm, compared to 43.2% across the combined standard-of-care arms, as of a January 22, 2026 data cut. In April 2026, Cardiff completed an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA and aligned on design elements for a Phase 3 registrational trial — the most concrete step toward commercialization the company has taken.

That progress came against a backdrop of financial pressure and leadership upheaval. As of March 31, 2026, Cardiff held approximately $46.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, with management projecting runway only into the first quarter of 2027. In January 2026, both the chief executive and chief financial officer departed simultaneously as part of what the company described as a strategic leadership review, leaving the company under interim and newly installed leadership as it prepares for the most consequential period in its history.