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Cybrexa is a clinical-stage oncology biotechnology company developing novel antigen-independent peptide drug conjugates (ADCs) aimed at combatting a range of cancer types, including ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. With the potential to disrupt the standard of care, the Cybrexa alphalex™ technology is a novel antigen-independent peptide drug conjugate (PDC) platform that enables targeted delivery of highly potent anticancer treatments and aims to revolutionize the standard of care in oncology. The platform consists of a pHLIP® peptide, linker, and small molecule anti-cancer agent. pHLIP® peptides are a family of pH-Low Insertion Peptides that target acidic cell surfaces. pHLIP® was developed at Yale University and the University of Rhode Island, and is exclusively licensed to pHLIP, Inc. alphalex™ represents the disruptive next generation in tumor targeting. Early clinical trials of the company`s lead candidate, CBX-12, demonstrate robust efficacy signals and tolerability in patients with metastatic cancer. As a privately held company, Cybrexa is led by a management team experienced at building life science companies and driven by scientists with an expertise in drug development and oncology.
Roar Biomedical is a New York, NY-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
Tempest Therapeutics is a development-stage biotechnology company advancing small molecule therapeutics that modulate anti-tumor immunity pathways.
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.