NexGenix Pharmaceuticals

NexGenix Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2003, is a drug discovery and development company with a strategic focus on creating targeted therapies for oncology and diseases of the nervous system. The company directs its research toward conditions such as glioblastoma, neurodegenerative diseases, neurofibromatosis, and autism-spectrum disorders. The core of its scientific platform is built upon in-licensed and collaboratively researched resorcylic macrolides, which are potent inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). This approach is based on the premise that numerous diseases involve the misregulation of protein homeostasis, presenting a distinct opportunity for drug development.

The company's primary product candidates are novel Hsp90 inhibitors derived from the highly potent compound radicicol. Hsp90 is a chaperone protein essential for the folding and stability of numerous proteins involved in cancer cell growth and survival. By inhibiting Hsp90, NexGenix aims to disrupt these processes, offering a therapeutic path for various cancers and neurological disorders. In addition to its main program, the company has pursued research into inhibitors of p21-activated kinases (Pak) for neurofibromatosis and Fragile X Syndrome, and has had a clinical-stage program for a non-surgical treatment for dermal neurofibromas. A significant milestone was announced in June 2011, when NexGenix and its partner, Provence Technologies, reported the successful development of a lead compound.

From a financial perspective, NexGenix operated as a privately-held, venture-backed entity. Over its history, it secured approximately $13.9 million in funding. This included a Series B round in July 2007 for $3.9 million and a grant in October 2009. The company attracted investments from organizations such as the Children's Tumor Foundation, the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the United States Department of Defense. In a significant corporate development, NexGenix Pharmaceuticals was acquired by OncoSynergy on May 1, 2013.

Keywords: drug discovery, Hsp90 inhibitors, oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, neurofibromatosis, targeted therapies, protein homeostasis, resorcylic macrolides, glioblastoma, clinical-stage