Therapeutics

ACELEROX is developing novel antioxidant nanoparticles that serve as therapies for reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated disease. ROS has been implicated in the progression of a broad range of diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer’s disease. Our proprietary class of molecules, termed PEG-HCCs (PEGylated hydrophilic carbon clusters), were developed and produced in Dr. James Tour’s laboratory at Rice University next to the Texas Medical Center, and can be used to directly treat the symptoms of these diseases and to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs into tumors. When compared to other therapeutic antioxidants, PEG-HCCs are superior in that they preferentially scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, exhibit potent yet selective antioxidant activity, are unreactive with nitric oxide, are not rapidly inactivated, nor do they require assistance from auxiliary molecules. We have demonstrated efficacy in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

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ATRAPOS THERAPEUTICS is developing targeted immunomodulatory therapeutics for management of diseases originating from overactive immune responses. The lead molecule has demonstrated encouraging activity in animal models of allergic asthma, and is currently being evaluated in other preclinical therapeutic settings, including pulmonary fibrosis and atopic dermatitis. The company is targeting STAT6 protein, a key nexus in the dysregulation of immune cell-driven allergic diseases. Other targets upstream of STAT6 that contribute to this dysregulation are currently targeted by FDA-approved therapeutics for the treatment of some of these allergic diseases Although STAT6 has been previously identified as an attractive therapeutic target, developing an inhibitor has been challenging. Inhibitory molecules need to incorporate a charge to interact with the target protein, but this same charge inhibits the ability of the potential inhibitors to cross the uncharged cell membrane and engage the protein within. Atrapos’ novel strategy surmounts this obstacle by hiding this charge in an inactive prodrug state; once within the cell, the drug is activated as the charge is revealed.

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ALLTERUM THERAPEUTICS is developing a monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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rHDL THERAPEUTICS is developing a novel nanoparticulate drug delivery platform capable of selectively targeting certain cell types and delivering a therapeutic payload of ribonucleic acids (RNA) for multiple disease indications. The technology harnesses the body’s endogenous cholesterol delivery mechanisms by artificially reconstituting high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Published and preliminary data demonstrate that the rHDL particles are protected from the body’s natural defense mechanisms, exhibit prolonged circulation time, and are generally non-toxic in humans. It has been used to successfully deliver therapeutic amounts of genetic material to cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. The technology is being developed through a scientific partnership with teams from MD Anderson Cancer Center and University of North Texas Health Science Center.

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