REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF CANCER CARE
Across the state, Modulation Therapeutics is helping improve the quality of life for sufferers of cancer and liver disease. With funding from the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust( WVJIT) through the West Virginia Capital Access Program( WVCAP), the company is now assisting patients in tackling aggressive forms of these conditions with three novel first-in-class therapies targeting nine different diseases.
Founded in 2011 as a spinoff of Tampa, FL’ s, The Moffitt Cancer Research Center, Modulation Therapeutics began with just one peptide drug that targeted a type of relapsing cancer. The company first sought funding from the National Institute of Health( NIH) SBIR and STTR grants to execute the steps needed to become FDA approved, essential before beginning its first two Phase I clinical trials.
“ We felt as a team that the technologies are sufficiently de-risked to attract investment into the company to ensure speed of development toward access to patients, commercialization and return on investment for the WVJIT program,” says Lori Hazlehurst, CEO of Modulation Therapeutics.
In 2016, the company decided to move to Morgantown, WV, due to the support from both West Virginia University( WVU) and the State of West Virginia in running a startup, which is critical to the success of any business.
“ The support of startup companies is critical to translate academic discoveries into the clinical arena to ultimately improve the quality of life for cancer patients and families,” Hazlehurst says.“ I was excited by the unique opportunity to participate in the growth of the cancer institute to improve cancer outcomes in the State of West Virginia.”
Modulation Therapeutics’ lead therapy, MTI-201, a targeting alpha radiotherapeutic— a type of cancer therapy which delivers small, concentrated doses of radiation directly to cancer cells, destroying them while minimizing damage to healthy cells— is expected to go to market within the next three years and has received FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track status. This designation is offered for developing drugs for diseases that are in dire need of treatment options.
The company’ s two additional therapies are MTI-301, a small molecule that can be used to treat multiple diseases or conditions, and the cyclic peptide MTI-101, which can also be used to treat different types of solid tumors.
Altogether, these three therapies target nine different diseases. MTI-101 targets relapsed multiple myeloma, castrate-resistant prostate cancer and lung cancer; MTI-201 targets MC1R,
Lori Hazlehurst CEO | hazlehurst @ modulationtherapeutics. com