The startup has developed a proteomics platform that utilizes deep molecular insights to identify and modulate protein networks while maintaining cell-specific regulatory controls. This technology enables clients to effectively select drug target candidates and implement genomic modifications, addressing the complexity of the proteome in therapeutic development.
Funding
$230K 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
Current drug discovery methods struggle to address the complexity of the proteome, making it difficult to identify and validate drug targets, particularly for diseases like cancer, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Existing approaches often lack the ability to observe and modulate protein networks within specific cellular contexts.
Solution
Vistara BioScience offers a proteomics platform that provides deep molecular insights into protein networks and their regulation within cells. Their TRIFECTA strategy combines proteomics-based observation of proteostasis mechanisms, targeted disruption of candidate proteins, and the design of clinical applications. By analyzing the ubiquitome and its crosstalk with biological pathways, Vistara identifies E3 ligases, motifs, and scaffolding proteins to guide the selection of candidates for targeted protein degradation (TPD). The platform facilitates the discovery of bioactive peptides that can target proteins intracellularly, enabling the engineering of cells for drug discovery and target validation.
Target Audience
Vistara's primary customers are biotech and pharmaceutical companies engaged in preclinical drug discovery research, particularly those focused on oncology, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Features
- UBQuest: A probeless, tagless assay for multiplexed identification of protein complexes with E3 ligases and deubiquitinases.
- ubCAST: A chemoproteomics platform employing a proprietary ELISA assay for high-throughput screening of proteostasis-modulating compounds.
- PINTACs (Protein INTeracting TArgeting Chimeras): Peptides that induce mono/polyubiquitination of target proteins, available in E-PINTAC (E3 ligase targeting), S-PINTAC (single protein targeting), and X-PINTAC (non-ubiquitinating) variants.
- Identification of E3 ligase-substrate pairs and degrome signatures for TPD applications.
- Multiplexed assay screens compounds against E3 ligases in the candidate cell type.
- Capabilities for target validation, small molecule discovery, and TPD solution development.