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Epizyme is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and plans to commercialize innovative personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers. We systematically identify the genetic alterations that create cancer causing genes, called oncogenes, select patients in whom the identified genetic alteration is found, and then design small molecule therapeutic product candidates to inhibit the oncogene. The clinical development plan for each of our therapeutic product candidates is directed towards patients with a particular genetically defined cancer. Our approach is part of a broader trend towards personalized therapeutics based on first identifying the underlying cause of a disease affecting specific patient populations, applying rational drug design tools to create a therapeutic to inhibit a molecular target in the identified disease pathway, and using a companion diagnostic to select the right patients for treatment. We have built a proprietary product platform that we use to create small molecule inhibitors of a 96-member class of enzymes known as histone methyltransferases, or HMTs. Genetic alterations can result in changes to the activity of HMTs, making them oncogenic. When Epizyme was founded, we recognized that the HMT class of enzymes might contain many potential oncogenes and presented the opportunity to discover, develop and commercialize multiple personalized therapeutics. We have prioritized 20 of the 96 HMTs as attractive targets for personalized therapeutics based on their oncogenic potential. Our two most advanced therapeutic product programs target the HMTs DOT1L (for the treatment of acute leukemias with genetic alterations of MLL) and EZH2 (for a genetically defined subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumors including INI1-deficient tumors). We believe that our ongoing Phase 1 adult trial for EPZ-5676, targeting DOT1L, is the first clinical trial of an HMT inhibitor. In May 2014, we initiated a Phase 1b clinical trial for EPZ-5676 in pediatric patients with MLL-r leukemia, which is considered to be the last largely untreatable pediatric acute leukemia. We are also conducting a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of EPZ-6438, which is being developed for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and solid tumors including INI1-deficient tumors such as synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumors, or MRT. We were founded in 2007 and are led by a management team with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. We have entered into therapeutic collaborations with Celgene, Eisai and GSK that have provided us with approximately $184 million in non-equity funding. As of June 30, 2014, we had $232.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivables.
TESARO is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by acquiring, developing and commercializing safer and more effective therapeutics.
Carisma Therapeutics is pioneering the development of CAR macrophages, a disruptive approach to immunotherapy. Our technology leverages advances in macrophage biology, chimeric antigen receptor engineering and adoptive cellular therapy for the treatment of human disease.
Portage is a unique entity in the world of biotechnology, catalyzing R&D to produce more quality clinical programs and maximize potential returns.
TYME, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on creating medicines that specialize in using the body’s immune system to treat diseases. The body has the ability to fight off major diseases and heal itself. Tyme is researching a mechanism that it believes may work alongside the body’s immune system to fight Stage IV Metastatic Cancer. Tyme hopes to provide a novel compound for physicians to use in a treatment regimen for patients fighting six major cancers (breast, lung, prostrate, gastric, esophageal and pancreatic cancers) responsible for 62% of the annual cancer deaths in the United States. The SM-88, Tyme’s proprietary compound, is a novel compound that has the potential to alter defenses to oxidative stress and increase free radical availability to the cancer cell. SM-88 is designed to penetrate the living cancer cells and introduce multiple mechanisms to kill the cell. Inducing transfer of electrons in the cancer cells may allow catalyzed external free radicals to react and stress the cell. SM-88 is a combination of low dose agents used for non-cancer treatment.