Genus Oncology

Genus Oncology, LLC is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2007, headquartered in Boston, MA. The company focuses on the discovery and development of treatments for refractory cancers by targeting the MUC1-C oncoprotein. This protein is aberrantly overexpressed in a high percentage of human carcinomas and some hematologic malignancies, making it a significant target for anti-cancer drug development.

The company's scientific foundation is built upon over two decades of research from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. It was scientifically founded by Surender Kharbanda, Ph.D., who has an extensive background in oncology drug discovery and development. Dr. Kharbanda's journey includes a 15-year tenure as a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and experience at Ilex Oncology, where he contributed to advancing three oncology drug candidates to clinical trials. Following the acquisition of Ilex by Genzyme, he founded Genus Oncology to develop new therapeutic approaches for various carcinomas. The current Chairman and CEO is Nicholas K. Pontikes, who joined in 2014 and was an original investor.

Genus Oncology’s business model revolves around developing a pipeline of proprietary peptide- and antibody-based drugs. Its primary client base consists of patients with refractory cancers that over-express the MUC1 protein. The company's lead drug candidate, GO-203-2c, is a peptide designed to inhibit MUC1-C function, which has been shown in preclinical models to block tumor development and survival in various cancers. A significant milestone was achieved in February 2011, when the company filed an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA and initiated a Phase I trial for GO-203-2c in patients with solid tumors. In March 2011, GO-203-2c received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The company has received funding through grants from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as a Series A funding round.

Keywords: biopharmaceutical, oncology, MUC1-C oncoprotein, cancer treatment, refractory cancers, drug discovery, clinical-stage, peptide drugs, antibody drugs, GO-203-2c, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, pancreatic cancer, Investigational New Drug (IND), Orphan Drug Designation, cancer research, therapeutic agents, biotechnology, targeted therapy