We are a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies to improve patient outcomes in cancers that are difficult to treat. Our mission is to improve the lives of cancer patients by developing next-generation cancer therapies that are designed to maximize efficacy while minimizing the toxicity and side effects traditionally associated with cancer treatment. Our pipeline features two clinical stage oncology product candidates and additional compounds in preclinical development. - RX-5902 is a potential first-in-class small molecule modulator of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway which plays a key role in cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. RX-5902 modulates the pathway through inhibition of phosphorylated p68, a protein that helps to transport beta-catenin from the cytoplasm into the cell nucleus. Once inside the nucleus, beta-catenin turns on various oncogenes, thereby promoting cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. We believe that by inhibiting phosphorylated p68, RX-5902 hinders the transport of beta-catenin into the nucleus and reduces the activation of cancer genes. In addition, multiple preclinical models have shown that RX-5902 activates the immune system against cancer and enhances the ability of immune cells to infiltrate the tumor and kill tumor cells. In preclinical models of colorectal and triple negative breast cancer ("TNBC"), the effects of RX-5902 were observed to be synergistic with other immunotherapy agents such as checkpoint inhibitors. We have evaluated RX-5902 in a Phase 1 dose escalation study in patients with a diverse range of metastatic, treatment-refractory tumors, including breast, ovarian, colorectal, and neuro-endocrine tumors. In February 2017, we initiated a Phase 2a clinical trial of RX-5902 in patients with metastatic TNBC. In August 2018, we entered into a collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. ("Merck") to evaluate the combination of RX-5902 and Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in a Phase 2 trial in patients with metastatic TNBC. In December 2018, we ceased enrollment in the Phase 2a monotherapy trial of RX-5902 in TNBC to focus RX-5902 development activities on planning the proposed combination trial with KEYTRUDA. We are currently evaluating the development strategy for RX-5902 and may or may not proceed with this trial. - RX-0301 is a potential best-in-class, potent inhibitor of the protein kinase Akt-1, which we believe plays a critical role in cancer cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, metastasis and drug resistance. RX-0301 is currently in preclinical development by Zhejiang HaiChang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ("HaiChang") as a nano-liposomal formulation of RX-0201 (Archexin®) using HaiChang's proprietary QTsome™ technology. On February 8, 2020, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with HaiChang (the "HaiChang License Agreement") pursuant to which we granted HaiChang an exclusive (even as to the us), royalty-bearing, sublicensable worldwide license to research, develop and commercialize RX-0201 and RX-0301. RX-0301 was previously the subject of a research and development collaboration with HaiChang to conduct certain preclinical and clinical activities through completion of a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial in hepatocellular carcinoma ("HCC"), and we were previously developing RX-0201 for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma ("RCC"). In February 2018, in response to the changing treatment landscape for metastatic RCC over the prior two years with the approval of new therapies by the FDA, we announced plans to discontinue the internally funded programs of RX-0201 and ceased enrolling patients in a Phase 2a proof-of-concept clinical trial of RX-0201 in patients with metastatic RCC.
|