Drug developer ValiRx (LON:VAL) expects to obtain "significant results rapidly" from the first-in-man clinical trial for its lead compound VAL201.
The trial, for which the firm has now made a filing to take place, will be conducted using prostate cancer patients and will not require healthy volunteers.
It will be conducted at University College London Hospital (UCLH), the company said.
Chief executive Dr Satu Vainikka told investors: "I am delighted with the progress of our compound and with all the hard work from the team to get VAL201 into first-in-man trials.
"I look forward to its further progress and development and to the compound's future potential as a life-saving treatment against a number of cancers."
The work is expected to determine the maximum dose comparable with the safety and tolerability of VAL201 and the biochemical and physiological effects of VAL201 in relation to concentration and effect and make a preliminary assessment of anti-tumour activity.
ValiRx said it hopes the trial should allow quick progress to a full efficacy or Phase II study.