Duo Oncology develops tumor-responsive nanomedicines using DNA self-assembly principles to create ultrasmall particles. These particles deliver a duo of anti-cancer therapies directly within the tumor microenvironment where they are released by environmental triggers. This platform is designed to improve outcomes for difficult-to-target and stroma-rich tumors.
Funding
$12.7M 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.
Founders
Product
Problem
Many cancers, particularly pancreatic and bile duct cancers, are surrounded by dense stromal tissue, which hinders effective drug delivery and limits the success of traditional chemotherapy. Delivering sufficient drug concentrations directly to the tumor microenvironment remains a significant challenge.
Solution
Duo Oncology develops tumor-responsive nanomedicines designed to overcome the challenges of treating stroma-rich tumors. The company's platform utilizes DNA-inspired self-assembly to create ultra-small nanoparticles capable of penetrating dense tumor tissue and delivering dual anti-cancer therapies directly to the tumor microenvironment. These nanomedicines are designed to release their therapeutic payload specifically within the tumor, maximizing efficacy and minimizing off-target effects. By combining two anti-cancer therapies into a single treatment, Duo Oncology aims to improve patient outcomes compared to traditional regimens.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes cancer patients with stroma-rich tumors, particularly pancreatic and bile duct cancers, and the oncologists treating these patients.
Features
- Ultrasmall nanoparticles (10X smaller than competing products) for enhanced tumor penetration
- DNA-inspired self-assembly for efficient drug encapsulation and delivery
- Tumor-responsive release mechanism for targeted drug delivery within the tumor microenvironment
- Combination therapies with two anti-cancer drugs in a single nanomedicine
- Customizable particle platform for diverse drug combinations
- Pipeline focused on addressing unmet needs in orphan cancer indications and other hard-to-treat tumors