The FDA has accepted an investigational new drug (IND) application for VQD-002, triciribine-phosphate (TCN-P), VioQuest Pharmaceuticals announced.

VQD-002 is a tricyclic nucleoside that targets intracellular AKT by inhibiting its ability to active important cancer pathways. This may have applications in cancers such as breast, ovarian, cololrectal, pancreatic and leukemia.

The company said it believes this is the first direct AKT inhibitor currently under clinical development.