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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.
POINT Biopharma develops next-generation radioligand therapies for the treatment of cancer
Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a Lexington, MA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
Effector Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering the discovery and development of a new class of oncology drugs known as selective translation regulators (STRs). Translation is the process in cells whereby information in genetic sequences is used to direct synthesis of proteins. Each of eFFECTOR’s product candidates is designed to act on a single protein that regulates, in a coordinated manner, the expression of multiple functionally related proteins that together drive important biological processes such as immune evasion, stress and inflammatory responses. In cancer, the tightly controlled translation of specific proteins becomes dysregulated, leading to malignancy characterized by uncontrolled growth, immune evasion and metastases. eFFECTOR believes that its therapeutic approach can restore the translational control of processes which tumors have hijacked for their benefit, while preserving normal cell function.
Waste Reduction is a Indianapolis, IN-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.