The startup has developed a drug screening platform that utilizes pre-clinical assets to identify repurposing opportunities for small molecule cancer drugs. This technology enables healthcare providers to match patients with effective treatment options for underexplored cancer types, enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Funding
$6M 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 are driven by loss-of-function mutations in tumor suppressor genes, which cannot be directly targeted by conventional therapies. Identifying effective treatments for these cancers is challenging due to the difficulty in targeting genes that are already non-functional.
Solution
Leapfrog Bio is developing targeted therapies for cancers with loss-of-function mutations, leveraging a proprietary Precision PGx Platform to identify synthetically lethal relationships. The platform uses CRISPR-based gene editing and next-generation sequencing to screen small molecules against cancer-causing mutations in vitro. By replicating tumor biology, the platform identifies existing compounds that can be repurposed as genetically targeted therapeutics. Leapfrog Bio's approach aims to accelerate drug development and improve outcomes for patients with cancers driven by previously undruggable mutations.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking to retarget shelved product candidates, as well as cancer patients with high unmet medical needs due to loss-of-function mutations.
Features
- Precision PGx Platform™ utilizes CRISPR-based gene editing and next-generation sequencing to discover synthetic lethality relationships.
- In vitro screening of small molecules against a broad range of loss-of-function mutations.
- Retrospective analysis of real-world clinical data to validate platform predictions.
- Focus on identifying existing compounds for rapid pre-clinical validation and clinical development.
- Pipeline includes LFB190, a BET inhibitor for solid tumors with EP300 loss of function, expected to enter clinical trials in 2025.
- Pipeline includes LFB188, targeted against a genetic mutation responsible for over 100,000 cases of cancer per year in the US alone, anticipated to enter the clinic in 2026.