Aptose Biosciences Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, is engaged in the discovery, research, and development of novel anticancer therapies in Canada. The company's pipeline of cancer drug candidates includes small molecule therapies and immunotherapy. Its lead program, LOR-253, an anticancer agent, which has completed Phase I clinical trail for the treatment of solid tumors, as well as undergoing Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies. The company's discovery stage products include LOR-500, a MELK Inhibitor for Oncology, as well as small molecule programs. The company is also developing RNA-targeted therapies, including LOR-2040, an antisense ribonucleotide reductase (R2) synthesis inhibitor, which is in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia; and Virulizin, a novel immunotherapy agent that has completed three Phase I/II clinical studies in solid tumors and pancreatic cancers, as well as completed a randomized placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine. In addition, its preclinical stage products comprise LOR-220, a novel small molecule for drug-resistant bacterial infections; and IL-17E1, an immuno-modulator for oncology. The company was formerly known as Lorus Therapeutics Inc. and changed its name to Aptose Biosciences Inc. in August 2014. Aptose Biosciences Inc. was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.