MecRx

MecRx is a Melbourne-based, privately held drug development company established in 2013, focusing on creating new cancer treatments and novel antibiotics. The company has since rebranded to MycRx and relocated its corporate office to Austin, Texas, to better reflect its primary focus on developing small molecule inhibitors that target the Myc oncoprotein, a key driver in the majority of human cancers.

The company's core strategy is to identify and advance promising molecular starting points for therapeutics that can address previously untreatable cancer targets. One of its key programs focuses on developing a drug to inhibit c-Myc, a protein that causes uncontrollable cell division in a wide range of cancers. Another significant target is the KRas protein, which is also responsible for cancerous cell division across various tissues. The firm's business model centers on progressing these novel drug candidates through the preclinical proof-of-concept phase and then licensing them to larger commercial partners for clinical development and market entry.

MecRx has established significant strategic partnerships to validate its technology platform and accelerate its research. A pivotal risk-sharing agreement with CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, provided crucial R&D support and validation for the company's drug discovery platform. This collaboration, along with a Victorian government Innovation Voucher, was instrumental in securing early-stage funding. The company has also teamed up with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to develop and test its cMyc inhibitor. To date, MecRx (now MycRx) has raised approximately $9 million over two Series A funding rounds, with key investors including the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF), managed by Brandon Capital Partners, and CSIRO.

The company is led by CEO Christopher Wraight and board director Dr. Chris Smith. The scientific efforts have been significantly bolstered by researchers like Dr. Rohan Volpe from CSIRO, who brought expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and drug discovery to the team. Keywords: oncology, drug discovery, c-Myc inhibitors, KRas inhibitors, preclinical development, cancer therapeutics, small molecule drugs, biotechnology, antibiotics, licensing partnerships