Tioma Therapeutics

Tioma Therapeutics, Inc., operating as a venture-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the immuno-oncology sector. The company directs its efforts towards developing and discovering anti-CD47 antibodies for treating both solid and hematologic cancers. Founded in 2006 as Vasculox, Inc., the firm underwent a rebranding to Tioma Therapeutics in 2016, and later became known as Arch Oncology. The company was established by scientific founder William A. Frazier, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine who was pivotal in discovering that CD47 is a receptor for thrombospondin-1. This foundational research underpins the company's entire therapeutic platform.

The company’s core business revolves around developing a portfolio of therapeutic antibodies that target CD47 signaling pathways. The primary product candidates are immune checkpoint inhibitors designed to block the CD47 protein, which cancer cells use to send a "don't eat me" signal to the immune system. By inhibiting this signal, Tioma's antibodies enable the innate and adaptive immune systems to recognize and attack tumor cells. This approach is being evaluated for various applications, including the treatment of cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and preventing complications from solid organ transplants. The business model is centered on advancing its antibody portfolio through clinical trials to establish proof-of-concept, with the ultimate goal of commercialization or strategic partnerships within the pharmaceutical industry.

A significant milestone in the company's history was securing an $86 million Series A financing in August 2016. This round was co-led by prominent venture capital firms, including RiverVest Venture Partners, Novo Ventures, Roche Venture Fund, and S.R. One, the corporate venture arm of GlaxoSmithKline. The funding was allocated to advance the lead drug candidate through human clinical trials and further develop the antibody portfolio. Operationally, the company maintains its research laboratories in St. Louis, Missouri, while its corporate headquarters are located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Keywords: immuno-oncology, anti-CD47 antibodies, cancer therapy, solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, checkpoint inhibitor, William A. Frazier, Vasculox, Arch Oncology, Series A financing, Roche Venture Fund, Novo Ventures, RiverVest Venture Partners, S.R. One, macrophage activation, cancer immunotherapy, biopharmaceutical, clinical trials