MetasTx

MetasTx, LLC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2021 by Brian Cummings and Somanath Shenoy, with Harvey Homan joining as CEO and co-founder. The company focuses on developing therapeutics to prevent the metastasis of solid tumor cancers like prostate, breast, and skin cancer. The scientific basis for MetasTx rests on decades of research into the p21-activated kinase-1 (PAK-1) enzyme, which is crucial for cancer initiation and metastasis. The founders' research identified the key role of PAK-1 in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that allows cancer cells to become metastatic.

Dr. Somanath Shenoy, a co-founder and the Chief Scientific Officer, is a biomedical scientist and professor with over 15 years of research focused on PAK-1's role in cancer. CEO Dr. Harvey Homan brings extensive experience in transitioning technologies from academic labs to commercial ventures, having led several biotech and medical device companies through to successful exits. This leadership team aims to capitalize on a market opportunity estimated at $11.5 billion in the U.S. alone, initially targeting the two million men under active surveillance for prostate cancer.

The company's business model is twofold, integrating molecular diagnostics with drug discovery. The primary product in development is MTX-101, a novel formulation of sterically stabilized liposomal encapsulated IPA-3, a highly selective inhibitor of PAK-1. This compound has demonstrated superior efficacy in inhibiting prostate tumor growth and metastasis in mouse models without the toxic side effects or testosterone depletion associated with current androgen deprivation therapies. In parallel, MetasTx is developing a companion diagnostic tool, supported by a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute. This tool will use machine learning to analyze EMT signature biomarkers, aiming to predict metastatic potential in early-stage prostate cancer, thereby identifying patients who would most benefit from aggressive treatment and streamlining clinical trial enrollment. The business strategy is capital-efficient, utilizing strategic outsourcing with partners like J-STAR Research for product development, with a clear focus on an eventual acquisition.

Keywords: MetasTx, cancer metastasis, solid tumors, prostate cancer, PAK-1 inhibitor, MTX-101, IPA-3, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, EMT, companion diagnostics, drug discovery, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, cancer therapeutics, molecular diagnostics, oncology, clinical-stage, Harvey Homan, Somanath Shenoy, Brian Cummings, cancer research, targeted therapy, life sciences