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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.
Located in Middleton, WI, Lucigen delivers innovative products and services to life scientists and manufacturers for the most pressing challenges in research and molecular diagnostics. With a focus on quality, ease-of-use, and affordability, Lucigen strives to make our customer’s research, manufacturing and diagnostic testing successful and cost-efficient.
Myrexis, Inc. is a Salt Lake City, UT-based company in the Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, and Biotech sector.
Predicine is a global molecular insights company that is committed to advancing precision medicine in oncology and infectious diseases. Predicine has developed a breakthrough cell-free DNA- and cell-free RNA-based liquid biopsy technology enabling minimally invasive molecular diagnosis for treatment selection, therapy monitoring, and minimal residual disease and early cancer detection. The company has launched a portfolio of blood-, urine- and tissue-based diagnostic assays for oncology and infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Through its business operations in Silicon Valley, Houston, Shanghai, Singapore, Berlin and Boston, Predicine partners with leading biopharma companies, institutions and governments to support personalized healthcare on a global scale.
Provention Bio, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics aimed at intercepting and preventing immune-mediated diseases. -We seek technologies or targets designed to predict, preempt or intervene before immune disease begins, re-appears or progresses. -We are creating a new biopharmaceutical category for autoimmunity. We leverage a transformational drug development strategy that sources, repositions and advances candidates that: -Target the interception or prevention of immune-mediated disease -Have been underdeveloped or deprioritized because of insufficient clinical trial efficacy or for strategic reasons -Have demonstrated proof-of-mechanism by preventing or intercepting immunopathologic pathways We believe that our deep understanding of immune-mediated pathophysiology, experience in translational medicine, and expertise in the design of rapid go/no-go clinical trials enables us to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic candidates for acquisition or in-licensing.