Rapidly growing tumours typically grow under hypoxic conditions and, therefore, rely on the process of glycolysis for energy production. As a by-product of this process, reactive intermediates such as methylglyoxal are produced; these intermediates kill cells through their ability to form adducts with proteins and nucleic acids as well as cross-linking cellular components such as chromatin. Methylglyoxal is detoxified by the enzyme glyoxalase-I which is over-expressed in tumours and represents a protective mechanism utilised by tumour cells to prevent cytotoxicity that would otherwise occur during hypoxic stress. Inhibition of glyoxalase-I activity should result in cell death at the hypoxic cores of tumours. Chroma is in the lead optimisation phase of its small molecule glyoxalase-I inhibitor program.