Hemispherian develops a novel class of small molecule drugs that target the TET2 enzyme to treat aggressive cancers, with a focus on glioblastoma. By restoring the normal epigenetic state of cancer cells, these therapeutics induce DNA damage response and promote cancer cell death while minimizing harm to normal tissues.
Funding
$4.7M 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.
NRFounders
Product
Problem
Many aggressive cancers, such as glioblastoma, lack effective targeted therapies, leading to poor patient outcomes. Current treatments often fail to address the underlying epigenetic dysregulation that drives cancer cell proliferation and resistance to therapy.
Solution
Hemispherian is developing a novel class of small molecule drugs designed to target the TET2 enzyme, which plays a crucial role in maintaining normal epigenetic states. By selectively modulating TET2 activity, these therapeutics aim to restore proper DNA modification patterns within cancer cells. This epigenetic reprogramming triggers a DNA damage response, leading to cancer cell death while minimizing off-target effects in healthy tissues. Hemispherian's approach offers a targeted strategy to combat aggressive cancers by addressing their fundamental epigenetic vulnerabilities.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with aggressive cancers, particularly glioblastoma, and the oncologists and medical professionals who treat them.
Features
- Small molecule drugs specifically designed to target and modulate the TET2 enzyme.
- Mechanism of action focused on restoring normal epigenetic states in cancer cells.
- Induction of DNA damage response and cancer cell cytotoxicity through epigenetic reprogramming.
- High selectivity for cancer cells, minimizing harm to normal tissues.
- Lead compound in late-stage preclinical development for glioblastoma.