SOLID Therapeutics develops small molecule antagonists targeting the HCAR1 receptor to impair cancer cell survival and enhance immune cell activation in solid tumors, particularly breast and pancreatic cancers. This dual mode of action addresses the challenges posed by the tumor microenvironment, which often promotes cancer cell resilience and immune evasion.
Funding
$540K 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
Solid tumors create hypoxic and acidic microenvironments rich in lactate, which cancer cells exploit to improve their survival and evade immune responses. High expression of the HCAR1 receptor, induced by the tumor microenvironment, is associated with poor survival rates in various solid tumors, including breast and pancreatic cancers.
Solution
SOLID Therapeutics is developing small molecule HCAR1 antagonists that target both cancer cells and anti-cancer immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. By blocking HCAR1, the antagonists impair cancer cell survival by preventing metabolic reprogramming and upregulation of defense mechanisms. Simultaneously, the HCAR1 antagonists stimulate tumor immunity by increasing immune cell activation. This dual mechanism of action aims to overcome the challenges posed by the tumor microenvironment, which often promotes cancer cell resilience and immune evasion.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes patients with solid tumors, particularly those with breast and pancreatic cancers, and the oncologists treating these patients.
Features
- Small molecule antagonists targeting the HCAR1/GPR81 receptor
- Dual mode of action: directly impairing cancer cell survival and stimulating tumor immunity
- Designed to counteract the effects of the hypoxic and acidic tumor microenvironment
- Focus on hard-to-treat solid tumors with high HCAR1 expression, such as breast and pancreatic cancers
- Structure-based drug discovery approach