Improving targeted treatment of cancer

MetaCurUm Biotech is developing a novel treatment that will benefit
patients with aggressive cancer.

  • Solid scientific background
  • Unique TGFβ mode of action
  • Targeted treatment
  • Large commercial potential
  • Granted patent
  • Possibilities for precision medicine
  • Highly dedicated and experienced team

News

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Research and development

Towards improved treatment of cancer

MetaCurUm Biotech is developing a new antibody treatment to prevent the formation of metastases by targeting an oncogenic transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling pathway. The company aims to meet a large unmet medical need and provide cancer patients worldwide with a new therapeutic option.

The drug development program is focused on prostate cancer, and the aim is to extend the pipeline to include additional aggressive cancer forms with large unmet medical needs such as breast, lung, kidney and endometrial cancer.

Companion biomarkers to be used for patient selection and to monitor treatment effects are being  developed in parallel with the lead drug candidate.

  • Drug candidate: Monoclonal antibody
  • Target: Oncogenic TGFβ signaling pathway
  • Lead indication: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
  • Development stage: Preclinical
  • Biomarkers under development

Novel drug target

TGFβ plays fundamental roles in cell growth and differentiation. TGFβ is also associated with a number of pathological processes such as cancer and fibrosis. In cancer cells, aberrant TGFβ signaling is associated with tumor progression and the formation of metastases (the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body).

TGFβ is an intensively investigated cancer drug target thoroughly studied and utilized by several ongoing drug development programs as well as being a solid base for a number of recent business collaborations.

MetaCurUm Biotech’s antibody drug candidate targets an oncogenic TGFβ signaling pathway utilized by cancer cells to become invasive and metastasize. Due to the unique mode of action, anticipated advantages compared to currently available drugs are lower side-effects, improved quality of life and overall survival.

Unmet medical need and commercial potential

More than 1.3 million men are affected by prostate cancer every year around the world. Although many of the patients can be treated and cured, prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in men.

Metastases is responsible for about 90% of all cancer deaths and there is a great need for drugs that prevents the spread of cancer cells in patients with, or at risk of developing, metastatic disease.

With its novel treatment strategy, MetaCurUm Biotech aims to address this unmet medical need.

MetaCurUm Biotech’s potential goes beyond cancer, and other relevant indications related to TGFβ will also be explored.

About MetaCurUm Biotech

MetaCurUm Biotech is a spin-off company from the department of Medical Biosciences at Umeå University, Sweden, based on the unique discoveries made by Professor Maréne Landström and her collaborators. The company was founded in 2018 and is currently a resident at the Umeå Biotech Incubator.

MetaCurUm Team

CEO

Maarten de Château, M.D. Ph.D

Founder, CEO and board member of several drug development companies: Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Sixera Pharma. Previously financial analyst at Aragon and Swedbank, Medical Adviser at Sanofi, Medical Director at Sobi

Project Manager

Peter Frank, MSc Enigneering

20 years of experience in Biologics/ATMP and biotech

CSO

Maréne Landström, M.D. Ph.D

Professor in pathology at Umeå University Founder of MetaCurUm Biotech AB
MetaCurUm Biotech collaborates with expert consultants and contract research organizations in the following areas:
  • Drug development
  • Business development
  • Chemistry, manufacturing and controls
  • Intellectual property rights
  • Regulatory affairs

MetaCurUm Board

Chairman

Urban Paulsson

Chairman of several biopharma companies: Gesynta Pharma, Lipigon, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals Previously legal counsel at Pharmacia and Vitrolife AB

Maréne Landström, M.D. Ph.D

Professor in pathology at Umeå University Founder of MetaCurUm Biotech AB

Maarten de Château, M.D. Ph.D

Founder, CEO and board member of several drug development companies: Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Buzzard Pharmaceuticals, Sixera Pharma. Previously financial analyst at Aragon and Swedbank, Medical Adviser at Sanofi, Medical Director at Sobi

Torbjörn Bäckström, M.D. Ph.D

Senior Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology at Umeå University Founded several drug development companies and an experienced Principal Investigator for clinical trials

Michael Sundström, Ph.D

Scientific Director of European Initiatives, SGC – Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet Michael has held several senior positions in academia and in drug development companies.

Scientific advisory board

The formation of a highly competent scientific advisory board is in progress and will soon be disclosed on the website.

References

TGFβ signaling and its relevance in drug development:

Specificity, versatility, and control of TGFβ family signaling

Derynck R., Budi E.H. Science Signaling, 2019, 12.570: eaav5183.

Contextual determinants of TGFβ action in development, immunity and cancer

David, C. J., Massagué, J. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2018, 19.7: 419.

Targeting TGF-β signaling for therapeutic gain

Akhurst, R. J. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology, 2017, 9.10: a022301.

Targeting TGFβ signaling in cancer

Colak, S., ten Dijke, P. Trends in Cancer, 2017, 3.1: 56-71.

Regulation of EMT by TGFβ in cancer

Heldin, C. H., Vanlandewijck, M., & Moustakas, A. FEBS letters, 2012, 586.14: 1959-1970.

Research relevant to MetaCurUm Biotech’s product development:

Interactions between TGFβ type I receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor-α mediates a synergistic crosstalk leading to poor prognosis for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Mallikarjuna, P., Raviprakash, T. S., Aripaka, K., Ljungberg, B., & Landström, M. Cell Cycle, 2019, 18.17: 2141-2156.

VHL status regulates TGFβ signaling pathways in renal cell carcinoma

Mallikarjuna, P., Sitaram, R. T., Landström, M., & Ljungberg, B.. Oncotarget, 2018, 9.23: 16297.

TGFβ promotes aggressiveness and invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Sitaram, R. T., Mallikarjuna, P., Landström, M., & Ljungberg, B. Oncotarget, 2016, 7.24: 35917.

APPL proteins promote TGFβ-induced nuclear transport of the TGFβ type I receptor intracellular domain

Song, J., Mu, Y., Li, C., Bergh, A., Miaczynska, M., Heldin, C. H., & Landström, M. Oncotarget, 2016, 7.1: 279.

TRAF6 stimulates the tumor-promoting effects of TGFβ type I receptor through polyubiquitination and activation of presenilin 1

Gudey, S. K., Sundar, R., Mu, Y., Wallenius, A., Zang, G., Bergh, A., Heldin, C. H., & Landström, M. Science Signaling, 2014, 7.307: ra2-ra2.

TRAF6 ubiquitinates TGFβ type I receptor to promote its cleavage and nuclear translocation in cancer

Mu, Y., Sundar, R., Thakur, N., Ekman, M., Gudey, S. K., Yakymovych, M., Hermansson A., Dimitriou H., Bengoechea-Alonso M. T., Ericsson J., Heldin, C. H., & Landström, M. Nature communications, 2011, 2: 330.

The type I TGFβ receptor engages TRAF6 to activate TAK1 in a receptor kinase-independent manner

Sorrentino, A., Thakur, N., Grimsby, S., Marcusson, A., Von Bulow, V., Schuster, N., Zhang S., Heldin, C. H. & Landström, M. Nature cell biology, 2008, 10.10: 1199.

Contact information

MetaCurUm Biotech AB
Tvistevägen 48c
907 36 Umeå
Sweden

info@metacurum.com

Registration number: 559163-6393

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