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Ensysce Biosciences, San Diego, CA, is a clinical stage private biopharma with prodrug platforms that address opioid use disorder. Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection (TAAP) technology forms an opioid prodrug that can only be activated through a 2-step internal digestive process, and therefore cannot be abused by chewing, snorting or IV administration.
Scribe is focused on the engineering, delivery, and development of next-generation CRISPR molecules to rewrite and repair the underlying cause of genetic disorders.
Kezar co-founder Christopher Kirk, Ph.D. began his work on the unique function of the immunoproteasome at Proteolix in 2005, while working on the compound that would become the successful multiple myeloma drug KYPROLIS™ (carfilzomib). As VP of Research at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which acquired Proteolix in 2009, Christopher led the efforts to develop the first selective inhibitors of the immunoproteasome and designed multiple studies demonstrating their profound immunomodulatory effects. In parallel with this work, Christopher and Kezar co-founder Jack Taunton, Ph.D. collaborated on several research projects involving protein secretion. This collaboration inspired a belief in the strong synergies between protein degradation and protein secretion, two fertile areas for drug discovery with platform potential. In 2014, Christopher and Kezar co-founder John Fowler began developing the business plan for Kezar, acting on a longstanding desire to work together and build a world-class company. In 2015, John and Christopher raised $23M and negotiated a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with Amgen for the Onyx immunoproteasome inhibitor patent estate. Now underway, John and Christopher are excited to leverage their complementary skill sets to build Kezar into a leader in small molecule drug development.
MBX Biosciences is a preclinical-stage biotechnology company using validated molecular targets to create medicines for rare endocrine diseases where current therapies are inadequate.
Aurora Biomed is a Vancouver, BC-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.