Sui Huang, MD, PhD, Cancer Biology Pioneering Researcher, Joins Thetis Pharmaceuticals Scientific Advisory Board

14 Oct 2021
www.biospace.com
First in ClassSmall molecular drug
Dr. Huang to guide preclinical and clinical investigation of resolvin-based therapies in solid tumor cancers Ridgefield, CT – (October 14, 2021) – Thetis Pharmaceuticals LLC (“Thetis”), a biopharmaceutical company developing Resolvin-based therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced today that Dr. Sui Huang has joined its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Huang is a molecular and cellular biologist with expertise in systems biology of cancer progression and inflammation. Gary Mathias, Chief Executive Officer of Thetis, commented, “As a result of Dr. Huang’s seminal discoveries in gene regulatory networks and non-genetic dynamics of tumor progression, we have a deeper appreciation of protumor inflammation as a key driver of tumor progression, metastasis, and therapy-induced resistance. These insights underlie the focus of our lead cancer drug, TP-317, a unique resolvin-based therapy that activates the body’s natural inflammation resolution pathways to treat solid tumor cancers.” Dr. Huang added, "Existing cancer therapies designed to kill tumor cells are inherently a double-edged sword. By triggering cell death, these therapies lead to an inflammatory response that paradoxically promotes tumor growth and consequently limits their efficacy. Mechanistically, Resolvins reprogram the tumor microenvironment to counteract the protumor effects that inevitably accompany cell killing caused by the cancer treatment itself, by clearing cell debris, downregulating inflammatory cytokines, and promoting anti-tumor immunity.” Dr. Huang is a professor at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), a Seattle-based biomedical research organization. The Huang Laboratory at ISB is focused on investigating the interface between normal cell development and tumor cell development, and the integral role played by chronic inflammation in triggering this transformation. Dr. Huang obtained his doctorates in medicine and molecular biology at the University of Zurich in 1995. After completing postdoctoral training in cancer biology, he joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School in Boston and subsequently moved to the University of Calgary to work alongside Stuart Kauffman on gene regulatory networks and cancer differentiation therapy. In 2019, Dr. Huang was announced as a member of a global research team funded with a $25 million grant from Cancer Research UK to find novel ways of treating cancers directed at inflammation as a root cause of tumor initiation and progression. About TP-317 TP-317 is a patent-protected new molecular entity that delivers Resolvin E1 (RvE1), a naturally-occurring lipid mediator discovered by biomedical researchers at Harvard Medical School. TP-317 offers a novel approach to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and activate anti-tumor immunity. Recent preclinical studies demonstrate that TP-317 has potent single agent activity in multiple tumor models, and additive effects with chemotherapy and anti-PD1 in cold tumors. Based on this data and a comprehensive safety package, TP-317 is being developed as a once per week subcutaneous injection for gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic and metastatic colorectal cancer. About Thetis Pharmaceuticals Thetis is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from cancer and autoimmune diseases. Thetis’ proprietary HEALER™ technology platform enables the pharmaceutical development of Resolvins, a class of endogenous lipid mediators that regulate immune homeostasis by resolving inflammation and clearing cell debris. Thetis’ HEALER™ technology overcomes the stability, manufacturing, and formulation hurdles that have limited the development of Resolvins as pharmaceutical agents, unlocking their robust pharmacology to be developed as first-in-class small molecule drugs. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “seeks,” “will” and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding Thetis’ expectations regarding the development and the continued progress of Thetis’ programs, including the intended incentives conferred by orphan-drug designation, the therapeutic potential of our product candidates, the design, commencement, enrollment and timing of ongoing or planned clinical trials, the anticipated benefits of our HEALER platform, the expected safety pro our product candidates, timing and likelihood of success of our current or future product candidates, and the market opportunity for our product candidates. Any such statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, among others, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans; the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company; our ability to develop, complete clinical trials for, obtain approvals for and commercialize any of our product candidates, including our ability to recruit and enroll patients in our studies; our ability to address the requests of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; competition in the industry in which we operate; and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Disclaimer TP-317 is an investigational drug product that has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For more information, please visit Thetis Pharmaceuticals’ website ( ) and follow Thetis on Twitter (@thetispharma). Contact Information Aaron Mathias Senior Director of Business Development amathias@thetispharma.com
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