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Proteolix
Biotech Specialty Pharma
333 Allerton Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080 USA
phone:650.266.2600
fax:650.266.2601
Symbol Private
Founded 2003
Employees
     www.proteolix.com
Research Sector Biotech Specialty Pharma
Summary Description
Small Molecule and Peptide Therapeutics to Target Cancer Pathways
Management
John A. Scarlett, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer; Craig C. Parker, Senior VP, Finance and Corporate Development & Chief Financial Officer; Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Founder; Mark K. Bennett, Ph.D., Vice President, Research; Christopher J. Molineaux, Ph.D., Vice President, Development; Lori A. Kunkel, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
Keywords
clinical development, peptide therapeutics, protein degradation, proteasome, protease

Comment | Printable Version | Modify profile Apr. 16, 2009

Description
Proteolix is dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing novel small molecule and peptide therapeutics that target protein degradation pathways for cancer and autoimmune diseases by disrupting protein turnover in cells.
Products / Services
The company's lead product candidate, carfilzomib (PR-171), is currently in multiple clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy for the treatment of multiple myeloma, lymphoma and certain solid tumor malignancies. Proteolix is also developing next generation proteasome inhibitors, including an oral proteasome inhibitor and a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, to expand the therapeutic potential of this new target class.
Technology / Differentiation
The proteasome controls the turnover of proteins in all cells, but cancer cells are more susceptible to cell death when the proteasome is inhibited. Although blocking proteasome activity induces cell death in a wide variety of cancer cells, the clinical success of proteasome inhibitors to date has been primarily in multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Proteolix is working to develop more efficacious inhibitors that have the potential to expand treatment to other cancers, as well as acute inflammatory disorders and ischemia. The company's compounds work by selectively and potently targeting a unique class of proteases.
Market / Customers
Approximately 19,900 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed in the United States every year, while nearly 50,000 Americans and 150,000 individuals worldwide are currently living with this condition. Approximately 71,400 cases of lymphoma (including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease) are diagnosed in the United States annually. Additionally, about 1.2 million new cases of solid tumor development were diagnosed in 2008 according to the American Cancer Society.
Status
In April 2009 Proteolix announced the appointment of Craig C. Parker to the position of CFO and the expansion of its clinical and regulatory leadership team. The company also installed John A. Scarlett, M.D., to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2009. Proteolix announced positive clinical data demonstrating that the company's lead product, carfilzomib, has single-agent activity and promotes durable responses in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.


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