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Kai Pharmaceuticals is a South San Francisco, CA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
TG Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of novel treatments for B-cell malignancies and autoimmune diseases.
B-Bridge International is a Cupertino, CA-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
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.
Scholar Rock is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines for the treatment of serious diseases in which signaling by protein growth factors plays a fundamental role. Our most advanced product candidate, apitegromab (SRK-015), a selective first-in-class inhibitor of the activation of the growth factor myostatin in skeletal muscle, is currently in development for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA. We are currently evaluating apitegromab in our TOPAZ Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in patients with later-onset (Type 2 and Type 3) SMA. Positive six-month interim analysis results were announced in October 2020 and top-line data for the full 12-month treatment period are anticipated in the second quarter of 2021. In addition, we are conducting our DRAGON Phase 1 proof-of-concept trial for SRK-181, a highly specific inhibitor of latent TGFβ1 activation, in patients with locally advanced and metastatic solid tumors. We believe SRK-181 has the potential to overcome resistance and meaningfully increase the number of patients who may benefit from checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 therapies. Utilizing our proprietary platform, we are creating a pipeline of novel product candidates with the potential to transform the lives of patients suffering from a wide range of serious diseases, including neuromuscular disorders, cancer, fibrosis and anemia.