LOcalized Targeted Therapy to Avoid REcurrent GlioBlastoma Multiforme

ended

TargTex is a newly founded Portuguese startup with a novel concept to tackle the most lethal type of brain tumor – Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, with a survival rate lower than 5% after 2 years. The aggressiveness of the disease combined with the lack of effective treatments translates into a terrible prognosis to GBM patients, with a life expectancy of no more than 12 to 18 months after being diagnosed. TargTex team has developed a concerted approach, taking into consideration the needs and contributions from key stakeholders: patients, doctors and scientists. This innovative treatment (for which we have IP protecting the application) is based on a hydrogel formulation to be used as adjunct to surgery, applied after tumor resection. With a slow release from the hydrogel – over several weeks – the molecule is able to selectively kill GBM tumor cells that were not fully removed during surgery, thus offering a safer solution to neurosurgeons, who often deal with the conundrum of removing unaffected brain tissue to avoid tumor recurrence. In addition, this approach brings added benefits to the patients since the single treatment does not require further chemotherapy cycles. Most importantly, the active drug is a small molecule that binds to a specific target in GBM cells, and therefore, covers the whole patient population since it is not a personalized medicine. Our goal for the Phase 1 is to assess the technical, commercial and financial feasibility of TargTex. For that purpose, we will a) assess the regulatory framework and IP strategy to develop an adjunct to surgery in the context of GBM; 2) design the Toxicology & Safety Pharmacology experiments needed for an EMA’s Clinical Trial application; 3) assess the willingness to adoption of our solution from neuro-oncologists and neurosurgeons and 4) evaluate competition and assess the interest of investors and pharma towards our unique product.