Block Biosciences
Block Biosciences is developing first-in-class therapeutics designed to intercept the spread of cancer to the brain by inhibiting a key step in the purine biosynthesis pathway essential for cancer cells to initiate brain metastases. Its drugs are uniquely designed as blood-brain-barrier-permeable inhibitors, overcoming a major treatment challenge, with potential applications for preventing metastasis in other organs.
- Drug Discovery & Therapeutics
- Biotechnology
- Healthcare Technology
Funding
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Brain metastases are one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, yet current treatment approaches are largely reactive, addressing tumors only after they have formed. A major challenge in treating brain metastases is delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier, which limits the effectiveness of many potential drugs.
Solution
Block Biosciences is developing first-in-class therapeutics designed to intercept the spread of cancer to the brain before metastases form. The company has identified and is inhibiting a key step in the purine biosynthesis pathway, which is essential for cancer cells to initiate brain metastases. Its drug discovery is powered by a unique library of clinically-relevant models specifically developed to study brain metastasis, enabling precision therapeutic design. The company's drugs are uniquely designed to be blood-brain-barrier-permeable, overcoming a major treatment challenge and potentially reducing the risk of forming secondary brain metastases.
Target Audience
Primary customers are oncology drug development partners and clinical researchers focused on brain metastasis and cancer prevention, as well as the broader patient population at risk for secondary brain metastases.
Features
- First-in-class therapeutics targeting a key step in the purine biosynthesis pathway essential for cancer cell initiation of brain metastases
- Blood-brain-barrier-permeable inhibitor design that overcomes a major drug delivery challenge
- Proprietary library of clinically-relevant models specifically developed to study brain metastasis, guiding drug discovery
- Anti-metastatic principles that may extend to preventing metastasis in organs beyond the brain