Coiled Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company developing first-in-class small molecule inhibitors that target TACC3, a scaffolding protein essential for cancer cell survival. Its lead program, AO-252, is currently in Phase I clinical trials for advanced solid tumors and works by disrupting protein-protein interactions that drive DNA repair and tumor growth. The company leverages an AI/ML-driven de novo design platform to discover therapeutics against structurally complex oncogenic targets.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biotechnology
- Drug Discovery & Therapeutics
- Healthcare Technology
- Software Only
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Many aggressive cancers rely on proteins with complex structures—such as coiled-coil domains—that have historically been difficult to target with conventional small molecule drugs. These cancers often exhibit centrosome amplification, which is associated with poor prognosis, tumor progression, and resistance to existing therapies, leaving patients with high-risk tumors few effective treatment options.
Solution
Coiled Therapeutics is building a precision oncology platform focused on developing small molecule inhibitors against coiled-coil and other structurally complex oncogenic targets. Its lead program, AO-252, is a first-in-class oral inhibitor of TACC3, a scaffolding protein that orchestrates multiple protein-protein interactions essential for cancer cell survival, including roles in mitosis, DNA repair, and immune evasion. AO-252 specifically disrupts C-terminus interactions of TACC3 while sparing N-terminus interactions vital for normal blood cell production, thereby minimizing toxicity. The company leverages a proprietary AI/ML-driven de novo design platform to iteratively optimize drug candidates, and AO-252 is currently being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial for advanced solid tumors.
Target Audience
Primary customers are oncology patients with advanced solid tumors, particularly those with centrosome amplification and aggressive cancer subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer, prostate cancer, and gastric cancer, as well as the clinical oncology centers and researchers treating these populations.
Features
- First-in-class small molecule inhibitor targeting TACC3 protein-protein interactions with a mechanism that triggers severe DNA damage and activates innate immune responses within tumors
- Selective disruption of C-terminus TACC3 interactions while sparing N-terminus interactions required for normal hematopoiesis, reducing potential side effects
- AI/ML-driven de novo design platform for discovering and developing therapeutics against coiled-coil and other structurally complex oncogenic targets
- Targets multiple key proteins in cancer pathways including DNA-PK, PARP1, BRCA, KU70, KIFC1, MBD2, and HDAC2
- Demonstrated potent preclinical activity in prostate cancer, gastric cancers, and triple-negative breast cancer with brain metastasis
- TACC3 target validated by DepMap analysis as a highly selective dependency, with embryonic lethality in mice but dispensability in adults indicating a favorable safety window