Neil Ackerman
MyeloRx is developing proprietary prodrugs and derivatives of the natural product triptolide. This agent has demonstrated clinical efficacy in acute leukemias. The company is currently funded by an NCI Fast Track SBIR contract enabling the development of its lead product, MRx102. MRx102 has demonstrated efficacy in a variety of preclinical models of AML; this work, performed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Andreeff of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, was recently published in Leukemia. It has also shown a high degree of safety in rodent toxicology models.
Based on its novel mechanism of action, the inhibition of XPB, it is expected to enhance the effects of radiation in solid tumors. Preclinical data support this hypothesis.
The compound is currently undergoing additional toxicology studies in rodents as well as toxicology studies in dogs. Is has patent coverage in the U.S., E.U., Japan and China.
The principals have extensive pharmaceutical experience at both large (Pfizer, Wyeth, DuPont) and small (Cetus, Cygnus and Pharmagenesis) pharmaceutical/biotechnology organizations.
MyeloRx LLC
VP Business Development
Graham Allaway, Ph.D.
Company Background
Celek Pharmaceuticals is addressing the need for new medicines to help patients suffering from cancers that are poorly served by current therapies. The company’s strategy is to enhance the value of in-licensed drug candidates by advancing them through proof-of-concept clinical trials. Formed as a Delaware LLC in 2009, Celek’s two founders, Graham Allaway, Ph.D., and Gary Robinson, Ph.D., are currently the sole employees.
Technology Overview
Celek’s lead product, CEL-031, is a clinical-stage targeted anticancer drug that selectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells by inhibiting cyclic GMP phosphodiesterases, which are overexpressed in human tumors. Currently in preclinical development for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), CEL-031’s mechanism of action involves the degradation of β-catenin, a cell signaling protein that plays a key role in bladder cancer tumorigenesis. In clinical studies against advanced cancers, orally-administered CEL-031 showed evidence of efficacy and a good safety profile. CEL-031 should have greater clinical efficacy against NMIBC, where it will be administered intravesically (i.e., instilled transurethrally), the standard drug delivery route for this indication.
Market Potential
Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the U.S., with 70,000 new cases annually and 600,000 individuals living with the disease. Worldwide, there are approximately 400,000 new cases annually and the incidence is rising.
About 70 percent of new bladder cancer diagnoses are made at the non-muscle invasive stage. Current NMIBC treatments involve transurethral resection (TUR), often followed by intravesical chemotherapy using non-specific cytotoxic drugs such as mitomycin C, or immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG). These treatments often fail, with five-year recurrence and progression rates of 50-70 percent and 20-30 percent, respectively. Current drugs also cause adverse side-effects and are hazardous to health care workers.
Since NMIBC is a chronic disease requiring lifelong monitoring and treatment, the lifetime cost per patient of treating bladder cancer is the highest of all cancers.
Despite the pressing need, few new drugs are in development for NMIBC. Celek is developing CEL-031 for two NMIBC indications: (i) perioperative administration following TUR, and (ii) BCG-refractory NMIBC. CEL-031’s estimated peak annual sales in these indications range from $510 million to $660 million.
Competitive Advantage
As the first targeted drug for NMIBC, CEL-031 represents a potential breakthrough in the treatment of patients with this disease. It should be possible to deliver CEL-031 safely at higher, more effective doses than current cytotoxic chemotherapies, resulting in dramatic reductions in rates of recurrence and progression. CEL-031’s favorable safety profile should also result in a substantial increase in the number of patients treated with CEL-031 compared to current drugs.
Financial Overview
Celek has raised more than $700,000 in funding, including investments by the principals and federal and state grants. The NCI awarded Celek a $176,000 Phase I SBIR contract supporting preclinical studies on CEL-031 for NMIBC. Celek is currently seeking to raise $3 million to support preclinical studies of CEL-031 in bladder cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and the initiation of a Phase I/II clinical trial in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Intellectual Property
Celek obtained exclusive rights to CEL-031 from OSI Pharmaceuticals. CEL-031 as a composition of matter and methods of treating cancer with CEL-031 are covered by four issued U.S. patents (plus foreign equivalents). Additional patents cover analogs, methods of identifying anticancer compounds and combination therapies.
Commercialization Strategy
Celek plans to complete a proof-of-concept clinical trial of CEL-031 in NMIBC patients, then partner for later stage development/commercialization. Recent partnering deals in this therapeutic area have had attractive financial terms. Celek has already met with potential partners who indicated interest in the product.
Pipeline Products
Celek is also developing CEL-031 to treat advanced cancers using novel formulation and delivery technologies to increase concentrations of the drug in the body, thereby maximizing efficacy. The company is focusing on: (i) advanced bladder cancer, and (ii) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A recently published independent study reported that CEL-031 has potent activity against tumor cells from AML patients, including those resistant to current drugs, and recommended clinical testing of CEL-031 against AML. CEL-031 would be eligible for Orphan Drug status in this indication.
Management Team
Graham Allaway, Ph.D., President and C.E.O, has spent 22 years in the biotechnology industry. As founding CEO of Panacos Pharmaceuticals, he played a key role in building that company from a private venture-backed start-up to a public company, while raising more than $125 million in private and public equity financing. Dr. Allaway also led Panacos’ drug discovery and development programs. Prior to Panacos, Dr. Allaway was CEO of Manchester Biotech and he previously led therapeutic R&D at Progenics Pharmaceuticals.
Gary Robinson, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, has 20 years of experience in research, development, and commercialization of technologies and products in the physical and life sciences. Most recently, he was Senior Director of Business Development at Panacos Pharmaceuticals, where he led partnering, contracting, intellectual property and pre-launch marketing activities. Prior to Panacos, Dr. Robinson held business and corporate development positions at IGEN.
Celek Pharmaceuticals
President & CEO
Scott Allocco
Company Background
BioMarker Strategies was founded in 2006 by Dr. Douglas Clark, a Professor of Pathology at Johns Hopkins, to improve the treatment of cancer by developing first-in-class, live-tumor-cell-based predictive tests to guide targeted drug therapy selection. Today the company is based at the Johns Hopkins Science + Technology Park and employs 10 people. BioMarker Strategies has successfully developed the SnapPath™ testing platform, and is engaged in pre-clinical and clinical studies with two major academic medical centers.
Technology Overview
The SnapPath biomarker testing system is an automated live-tumor-cell processing platform that enables next-generation, ex vivo biomarker tests to guide targeted drug therapy selection. A small portion of a patient’s live tumor (from a biopsy or surgical excision) is placed into a disposable cartridge and inserted into the SnapPath instrument. The SnapPath uses onboard robotics and fluid handling systems to expose a patient’s live tumor cells to drugs and/or growth factors to evoke a phosphoprotein-based Functional Signaling Profile (FSP) of the signal transduction network that is not possible using static biomarkers from dead, fixed tissue. These FSPs generated by the SnapPath device can be utilized by oncologists to guide targeted therapy for cancer patients. To date, the company completed proof-of-mechanism studies with human melanoma samples using a prototype device, produced and verified several SnapPath alpha units, and placed two of alpha units at academic medical centers for clinical research studies.
Market Potential
With approximately 1.5 million solid tumor cancer patients in the U.S., the total addressable market for live-tissue testing exceeds $5 billion, assuming value-based reimbursement. Within this population, the initial target markets include:
- Melanoma (BRAF V600E)
- Lung carcinoma (EGFR wt)
- Colorectal carcinoma (KRAS wt)
- Breast (Triple Negative)
- Renal cell carcinoma
Competitive Advantage
Most current molecular profiling strategies rely on the analysis of static DNA or protein-based biomarkers, but this tells little about the actual functioning of the complex signal transduction network within tumor cells. By interrogating living solid tumor cells from cancer patients using the SnapPath testing platform, the resultant predictive tests will contain novel information content — such as pathway bypass mechanisms and feedback loops — that will enable oncologists to select better targeted therapies, including drug combinations, for their patients.
Financial Overview
To date, BioMarker Strategies has obtained the following funding:
- $9 million from private investors
- $2.3 million SBIR Fast Track Phase I/II contract for SnapPath instrumentation development
- $200,000 Phase I SBIR contract for companion diagnostic development
- Additional funding from the Federal Therapeutic Discovery Tax Credit Program, MD TEDCO, and Johnson & Johnson
BioMarker Strategies is currently seeking investors for an initial institutional investment round of $7 million to achieve the early-stage commercialization goals outlined below.
Intellectual Property
BioMarker Strategies is using a combination of patent filings, trade secrets, and trademarks to protect its proprietary interest in the SnapPath testing system. To date, the company has filed three patent applications that focus on the platform, the process of ex vivo stimulation, and the resultant ex vivo test content.
Commercialization Strategy
The company’s long-term commercialization strategy is focused on developing SnapPath-deployed predictive tests to guide therapy for solid-tumor cancer patients in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. BioMarker Strategies will use the following steps to bring its products to market:
- Early-stage commercialization
- Place first-generation SnapPath units at comprehensive cancer centers
- Achieve 510(k) approval for the platform
- Expand academic and pharma collaborations
Later-stage commercialization
- Increase SnapPath placements at additional cancer centers
- Expand sales and marketing infrastructure
- Validate and clinically qualify tests
- Establish Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) lab and launch Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs)
- Transition LDTs to pre-market approval (PMA)
Pipeline Products
BioMarker Strategies’ proof-of-concept studies have focused on characterizing resistance to BRAF inhibitors in advanced melanoma. This will be followed by the development and launch of tests to guide targeted drug use in larger markets such as non-small-cell lung, colorectal, breast, and renal cell carcinomas. Given the ability to test specific drugs in the device, SnapPath also has the potential to become a platform to improve early drug development, provide more effective clinical trial design through patient stratification, and enable companion diagnostics. To this end, the company was awarded a SBIR grant in September 2011, to support the development of a pathway-based companion diagnostic test to use in conjunction with the SnapPath platform.
Management Team
Douglas Clark, M.D., Chief Medical Officer/Acting CEO, is an entrepreneur and a Professor of Pathology at The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, who brings over 20 years of experience in diagnostic pathology, laboratory management, and biomarker discovery.
Scott Allocco, co-founder, brings 15 years of business development, pharmaceutical drug management, and public-sector reimbursement experience to the company, having most recently served as the Vice President of State Government Affairs and Business Development for Coventry Health Care.
Adam Schayowitz Ph.D., MB A, Senior Director of Operations and Business Development, brings nearly a decade of experience in tumor cell biology with a focus in targeted cancer therapeutics, preclinical, and early clinical drug development, and leads the company’s strategic partnerships and collaborations with external collaborators.
Board of Directors: Glenn Miller, Ph.D., Chairman, VP/Head of Personalized Medicine at AstraZeneca; Dr. Samuel Broder, former Director of the National Cancer Institute; Dr. Paul Beresford, VP of Business Development at Biodesix and former VP of Translational Diagnostics at Ventana Medical Systems; Skip Klein, Managing Member at Gauss Capital Advisory and founder of the T. Rowe Price Health Sciences Fund; and Christy Wyskiel, former Managing Director at Maverick Capital and Life Sciences Equity Analyst at T. Rowe Price.
BioMarker Strategies
President
Stephen Cary
Company Background
Omniox is a biotechnology company commercializing a breakthrough oxygen delivery technology called H-NOX for a broad range of peripheral hypoxia diseases including cancer, acute cardiovascular ischemia, wounds, and trauma. The H-NOX technology directly overcomes key reasons for the failure of prior efforts in this area. The technology was originally developed in the laboratory of Michael Marletta, currently President and CEO of The Scripps Research Institute. Omniox currently employs seven full-time scientists and has laboratory operations in Mission Bay, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale, Calif.
Technology Overview
Omniox is a preclinical/IND-stage company initially focused on developing an H-NOX product that sensitizes hypoxic tumors to radiation and chemotherapy. Preclinical data with the lead H-NOX candidate demonstrate substantial re-oxygenation of hypoxic tumors. When combined with radiation, there is a significant delay in tumor growth and enhanced survival in relevant mouse models of human cancer including glioblastoma, with a promising safety profile.
The University of California, San Francisco Neuro-Oncology Clinical Site Committee has approved H-NOX for parallel Phase IB clinical trials in recurrent and newly diagnosed glioblastoma. A real-time pharmacodynamic biomarker for hypoxia has been validated in the clinic and will be used to identify appropriate patients and measure the biological effects of H-NOX in reducing tumor hypoxia.
Market Potential
Radiation therapy is the most common non-surgical treatment for cancer patients (more than chemotherapy and targeted therapies combined). Needham & Company estimates that an oxygen-delivery therapy to improve chemo-radiation would command $4,000 to $20,000 per round of chemo-radiation treatment and may represent a market of $3 to $5 billion per year. The competitive, regulatory, clinical, and reimbursement landscapes for this indication are compelling.
Competitive Advantage
Omniox’s H-NOX oxygen carriers are designed to penetrate deep into the tumor tissue, beyond the reach of red blood cells. This approach is a major improvement over prior clinical efforts relying on manipulating red blood cells: this only succeeded in hyper-oxygenating normoxic tissues with minimal effects on hypoxic tumors. H-NOX is an entirely new approach to re-oxygenating hypoxic tumors to enhance chemo/radiosensitiation.
Financial Overview
Omniox has secured more than $4 million in NIH SBIR funding since 2009. We are actively seeking equity financing to match the NCI Phase IIB $3 million Bridge Award to advance a lead candidate through Phase IB clinical trials. This clinical milestone will create a significant value inflection for investors joining at this stage of development.
Omniox has received firm commitments for $1 million from high net worth investors, and is seeking a minimum of $2 million in additional investments to match the NCI Bridge award.
Intellectual Property
In 2006, UC Berkeley filed broad patent claims to protect the core technologies, and Omniox continues to file for further protection of specific applications. Omniox holds an exclusive option to negotiate (with capped financials) for an exclusive worldwide license for all therapeutic and industrial uses of these technologies. The company has retained the law firm of Morrison & Foerster to oversee IP matters and the firm of Latham & Watkins for corporate affairs. More details on the current status of national filing phases of the core patents are available upon further request.
Commercialization Strategy
Omniox expects to partner with or be acquired by a pharmaceutical company to successfully commercialize H-NOX for peripheral oxygen delivery. All major pharmaceutical companies are currently conducting clinical trials with chemotherapeutics or targeted therapies in combination with radiation, with the goal of enhancing the efficacy of radiation.
The lead H-NOX product will be best utilized by medical oncologists who oversee patient treatment plans as part of a team of oncology professionals, including a radiation oncologist. More than 90 percent of radiation oncologists practice within two blocks of medical oncology clinics, therefore, radiosensitizers can be infused at the medical oncology office prior to transport of the patient for radiation treatment.
Pipeline Products
H-NOX oxygen carriers have the potential to reduce tissue loss during myocardial infarctions and stroke, as well as in acute and chronic wound settings, a range of transplant surgeries, and ultimately may function as part of a resuscitation fluid in emergent situations. There is tremendous life cycle potential for H-NOX proteins beyond their utility in oncology.
Management Team
Omniox is led by CEO and co-founder Stephen Cary, formerly in Research and Development/Market Strategy at Genentech.
The Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board is co-founder, Michael Marletta, currently President/CEO of The Scripps Research Institute, member of the SAB of HHMI, and member of NAS and IOM. He has extensive experience in advising pharmaceutical companies in drug development.
The business co-founder is Ajit Shah, who has a combined 24 years of experience as an entrepreneur, operating executive, and venture capitalist. He is active in Silicon Valley as an outstanding scientific and strategic advisor to start-ups.
The IND Core Team is made up of experienced drug development veterans from Genentech, Quintiles, and Baxter Healthcare.
Omniox Inc.
CEO
Kyle Chan
Company Background
NovoMedix LLC specializes in the development of small molecule inhibitors of multiple biological pathways that are critical drivers of disease and are relatively inactive in normal tissues and housekeeping processes, with an initial focus on cancer. NovoMedix targets underserved markets with unmet clinical needs, including triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), high risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and melanoma.
Technology Overview
NovoMedix has developed two new classes of small molecule translation initiation inhibitors with unique mechanisms of action as targeted therapies for high risk TNBC (estrogen and progesterone receptor, and HER2/neu-negative breast cancer). Lead compounds are currently in the preclinical stage and have been tested in an animal model of TNBC in which they significantly reduced tumor growth (better than paclitaxel) with no apparent toxicity. These novel compounds are promising clinical candidates and represent first-in-class small molecule therapeutics aimed at reducing recurrence and increasing survival rates for TNBC. Since these drug candidates are small molecules, they will be less expensive and easier to administer than biologics and should fit easily within the current treatment regimen.
Market Potential
Breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer account for more than half of cancer patients in the United States. One in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. Although the overall survival rate for early stage breast cancer is high, triple negative breast cancers are particularly aggressive and are more likely to recur than other subtypes, resulting in a significantly increased risk of death. Currently, no targeted therapies exist for TNBC. Since more than 60 percent of triple negative breast tumors overexpress eIF4E (a critical factor in translation initiation), and high levels of eIF4E are correlated with recurrence and death, inhibitors of protein translation initiation should prove to be a viable targeted therapy for TNBC with high eIF4E.
Competitive Advantage
NovoMedix’s most advanced drug candidates for the treatment of TNBC represent two new classes of translation initiation inhibitors with unique mechanisms of action. Besides the anti-viral drug, ribavirin, there are no viable drug-like inhibitors of translation initiation have been reported to date. More importantly, there are virtually no novel therapies in clinical trials for TNBC. Most ongoing trials for TNBC are on various combinations of existing chemotherapy drugs. Recent data suggests that at least one of these “first-in-class” compounds has the potential to enter into a Phase I clinical trial for TNBC.
Financial Overview
NovoMedix LLC was established as a partnership in 2001 and converted to an LLC in 2010 in anticipation of angel or VC funding and/or corporate partnerships. NovoMedix is currently privately owned and has no venture capital investment. NovoMedix has raised $1.75 million in equity, government grant, and tax credit revenue. SBIR funding has allowed the company to increase its value without dilution. NovoMedix is seeking a strategic investment of $5 million to complete preclinical studies and file an IND for TNBC within 24 months. NovoMedix would then partner with a larger pharmaceutical company for clinical development and commercialization of a novel therapy for TNBC.
Intellectual Property
NovoMedix has filed a composition of matter patent application (PCT/US2011/039377) for the NM043 series of compounds for the treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of various disorders, including cancer. In addition, NovoMedix is in the process of filing provisional patents on several other lead series.
Commercialization Strategy
NovoMedix’s commercialization strategy is to design and execute an IND-enabling nonclinical safety program to support a Phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced metastatic disease and enter into partnerships with pharmaceutical companies for the clinical development and ultimate commercialization of novel small molecule drugs. NovoMedix plans to license its compounds in exchange for licensing fees, milestone payments, and royalties.
Pipeline Products
The NovoMedix pipeline contains several novel compounds in various stages of development. Most relevant to this project are follow-up studies that are planned to determine the efficacy of previously identified lead compounds for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In addition, several different novel lead compounds are currently under development for the treatment of high risk pediatric B-ALL. These compounds have demonstrated in vitro safety and efficacy and preliminary safety in animals. In vivo studies in mouse models of high risk B-ALL are the subject of a recently submitted Phase I SBIR proposal.
Management Team
Cathy Swindlehurst, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, has 22 years of experience in biotechnology. Former V.P. at PanCel, MagneSensors, and NovaDx.
Leah Fung, Ph.D., Founder and Exec. Director, Drug Discovery, has 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry. Management positions at Structural Genomics, Structural Bioinformatics, and Celgene.
Sabine Ottilie, Ph.D., Director, Molecular Oncology, has 20 years of molecular oncology research experience in academia and biotechnology.
