Cothera

Cothera Bioscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on creating treatments for oncology targets previously considered undruggable. The company was established by the core founding members of Crown Bioscience, a contract research organization specializing in translational oncology, along with experienced serial entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley. Key founders include Alex Wu, Ph.D./MBA, who serves as Chairman and CEO, and Yiyou Chen, Ph.D., the scientific founder. Before Cothera, Wu co-founded Crown Bioscience and led it to a successful IPO and subsequent acquisition for over $400 million. Chen also co-founded Crown Bioscience, serving as its Chief Scientific Officer, and is recognized for establishing the industry-leading HuPrime® technology platform.

The company's primary strength lies in its clinically validated translational platform, which utilizes synthetic lethality and protein degradation pathways to target cancer cells. A key proprietary asset is the i-CR® technology platform, a method for individualized drug screening and new drug development that has been clinically validated to predict patient drug response. This platform enables the efficient in-vitro expansion of patient-derived tumor cells while maintaining the tumor's heterogeneity. Cothera's business model centers on developing its pipeline of drug candidates and leveraging its i-CR® platform to improve success rates in anticancer drug development, with a focus on areas like synthetic lethality and immunotherapy. The company has multiple international patents for its drug candidates and platform.

Cothera's pipeline includes three clinical-stage programs targeting Myc and KRAS. Its main project, PC-002, is a first-in-class small-molecule drug for MYC-mutated tumors and has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. FDA. It has entered Phase II clinical trials. Another compound, zotiraciclib (ZTR), is an oral CDK9 inhibitor being developed to treat high-grade glioma. The company collaborates with leading oncology medical centers to conduct prospective clinical trials.

Keywords: clinical-stage biotech, oncology therapeutics, undruggable targets, synthetic lethality, protein degradation, i-CR technology platform, cancer therapies, translational oncology, drug development, PC-002, MYC-mutated tumors, zotiraciclib, glioma treatment, Crown Bioscience, Alex Wu, Yiyou Chen, individualized drug screening, anticancer drug development, deubiquitinase inhibitor, translational medicine