Technology

A Proprietary Platform that Specifically Delivers Oncologic Warheads to Tumor Cells

Our proprietary phospholipid ether (PLE) delivery platform was deliberately designed to be coupled with multiple warheads to facilitate both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Several warheads have been conjugated to allow for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics, radiotherapeutics, and molecular diagnostics. Our product candidates are built upon this cancer cell-targeting delivery and retention platform of optimized Phospholipid Drug Conjugates™ (PDCs).

Mechanism of Entry into Tumor Cells

Our PLE platform provides selective delivery of a diverse range of oncologic warheads to cancerous cells, whether a hematologic cancer or solid tumor, the primary tumor, or a metastatic tumor and cancer stem cells.

Mechanism of Action #1

Specific Targeting of Tumor Cells

Phospholipid ethers (PLEs) provide specific targeting to tumor cells
Tumor cells significantly alter their metabolic needs as compared to normal cells and this change results in a modification to the cell membrane
Unlike normal tissue, tumor cells have increased the presence and stabilization of specialized regions in the cell membrane known as lipid rafts
Our PLEs have been optimized to bind specifically to these lipid raft regions within the tumor membrane rather than a single epitope/surface antigen
Our PLEs then gain direct entry to the tumor cell cytoplasm

Mechanism of Action #2

Unique Mechanism of Entry

Lipid rafts allow multiple PDCs to be bound to the tumor cell membrane simultaneously
Once sufficient numbers of PDCs are bound to the lipid raft, the lipid raft undergoes trans-membrane flipping
Transmembrane flipping provide delivery of the PDC directly to cytosol/cytoplasm of the tumor cell
PDCs will then be transported along the golgi apparatus network and accumulate around mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum

Mechanism of Action #3

Controlled Release

Entry via lipid rafts and trans-membrane flipping
Delivery directly to cytosol
PDCs will accumulate along the golgi apparatus network and endoplasmic reticulum

Advantages of Our Phospholipid Ether Platform

Our PLE platform takes advantage of a metabolic shift utilized by all tumor cell types in all stages of the tumor "cycle." This allows the PDC molecules to gain access to the intracellular compartment of the tumor stem cells, primary tumor cells and metastatic tumor cells and for the PDCs to continue to accumulate over time, which may enhance drug efficacy.

No Reliance on Specific Cell Surface Epitopes or Antigens

The PDC's mechanism of entry does not rely upon specific cell surface epitopes or antigens as are required by other targeted delivery platforms. Specific cell surface epitopes are limited in number on the cell surface, undergo internalization and cycling upon binding and are not present on all tumor cells of a particular cancer type. This means a subpopulation of tumor cells will always remain. PDCs can target 100% of the tumor cells of a particular cancer type.

Diversity of Chemistry and Conjugation

PDCs offer the potential advantage of having the ability to be conjugated/attached to molecules in numerous ways, thereby increasing the types of molecules that can be targeted and delivered via the PDC.

Multi-Asset Product Portfolio

Our proprietary product pipeline is comprised of multiple PDCs developed to treat a broad range of cancers. These next-generation cancer treatments aim to deliver greater efficacy and less side effects improving patient outcomes.

Product Pipeline

Posters & Publications

Review our published posters and publications to get a deeper understanding of our PLE platform technology.

Read Poster & Publications

Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations

We aim to balance internal research and product development with academic collaboration and corporate partnering to advance our PLE technology platform and promising pipeline of oncology product candidates.

Partnership Information