The Company’s drug development strategy focuses on anti-cancer therapy. Our lead compound is in pre-clinical development for solid tumors and shows surprising activity at low doses. It combines two functional parts: a novel MetAP2 inhibitor coupled to a bio-compatible, stable polymer, clinically proven to improve safety, bio-distribution, tumor targeting, and pharmacokinetics of the attached active drug. This rational approach reduces development risk and represents the next generation of targeted cancer therapy.
Non-degradable polymer backbones are preferred over degradable polymers because they do not release drug in general circulation, thus preventing toxicities. Pre-clinical testing of our lead drug has shown surprising activity results, which we believe will translate into human clinical benefit.
Mechanism of delivery: Polymer acts as "warhead"
Rational Drug Development
The concept is simple: small molecules are easier to manufacture and characterize than large proteins or monoclonal antibodies, but are indiscriminate in their targeting. That makes them prone to cause a host of unwanted side effects. By conjugating (or attaching) the active small molecule to a larger bio-compatible - and importantly - non bio-degradable polymer, the side effects are minimized. An added benefit is that the polymer also acts as a passive tumor-targeting device. This technique has been clinically proven to increase the amount of drug delivery to the tumor site by more than 10X, to increase drug half-life by as much as 14X, and to improve the safety profile significantly versus the un-conjugated small molecule.
One Broadway, 14th Floor, Cambridge MA 02142 Tel: 617.401.3110
