The startup develops small molecule therapies that target synthetic lethal metabolic dependencies in cancer by disrupting stress response pathways essential for cancer cell survival. This approach enables patients to inhibit specific pathways that contribute to cancer cell growth, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Funding
$68.3M raised to dateRaised to date based on public sources. This may differ from the amount the company actually raised and is based only on what is publicly available on the internet.
FLFounders
Product
Problem
Many rare genetic disorders lack effective treatments, leaving patients with limited options to manage their conditions. Current therapies often address only a subset of symptoms and may have tolerability issues, failing to holistically improve patient outcomes.
Solution
Alesta Therapeutics is developing oral small molecule therapies to address the unmet needs of patients with rare genetic diseases. Their lead asset, ALE1, targets hypophosphatasia (HPP) by inhibiting a novel target to reduce levels of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a key metabolite in the disease's pathology. ALE1 has demonstrated reduction of PPi levels across multiple animal models following oral administration and is progressing through GLP toxicology studies, with clinical studies expected to begin in 2025. Alesta is also advancing ALE2, which targets Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease by inhibiting GCN2, a key regulator of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) activated by tRNA synthase mutations.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients suffering from rare genetic disorders such as hypophosphatasia (HPP) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, as well as the physicians who treat them.
Features
- ALE1: Oral small molecule therapy for hypophosphatasia (HPP) that inhibits a novel target to reduce inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) levels.
- ALE2: Oral small molecule therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease that inhibits GCN2 to address chronic neurotoxicity.
- Both ALE1 and ALE2 are designed for oral administration.
- Preclinical data supports both ALE1 and ALE2 as promising clinical candidates.
- ALE1 is progressing through GLP toxicology studies.