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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.
Created by the 1975 merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical Company, Sigma-Aldrich since grew through various acquisitions until it had over 9,600 employees and was listed on the Fortune 1000 at the time of its acquisition by Merck.
Clinical Research Consultants is a Birmingham, AL-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
Cortendo AB is a global biopharmaceutical company founded in 1996, incorporated in Sweden, and based in the United States. Cortendo recognizes the urgent need to make new medicines available for people with orphan diseases, and the Company is committed to delivering therapies that make a difference. An orphan disease is one for which the pharmaceutical industry has not worked to make new medicines. It may be a rare disease (in the U.S. this is defined as a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 people) or a disease such as tuberculosis, cholera, typhoid or malaria that is not often diagnosed in developed countries but remains common in countries that are still developing. Cortendo’s initial strategic goal is to be the global leader in finding, developing and making medicines for people with orphan endocrine diseases, with its most advanced program in Cushing’s syndrome. Cortendo research led to the development of COR-003 (levoketoconazole) which is currently being studied in the Phase 3 global SONICS trial for the treatment of endogenous Cushing’s syndrome. COR-003 has received orphan designation from both the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cortendo is building the capabilities and resources to independently develop and commercialize its orphan assets in key global markets and to partner non-strategic product opportunities, such as BioPancreate-2001 for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The company also intends to leverage its commercial expertise by working with partners to acquire, develop, and commercialize late-stage or commercial assets in a select few orphan disease focus areas.
PowerMedica is a Deerfield Beach, FL-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.