Value Proposition:
· Drug reduces tumor burden by interrupting cancer cells’ reliance on glucose metabolism.
· Tolerated by healthy, normal cells.
· Potential for combination therapy with other modalities (chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, etc.)
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a drug to reduce cancer cells’ affinity for glucose metabolism. By interrupting glucose metabolism, the therapeutic strategy reduces tumor burden without disrupting non-cancer cells. Exposure to this drug interrupts glucose metabolism and has been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in models of tumor cells and primary tumors. Thus, the drug presents a new method of modulating cancer metabolism as a therapeutic strategy.
Unmet Need
Cancer is the leading cause of death globally, and it’s estimated that there were over 19 million new cancer cases globally in 2020. Glucose metabolism is known to be dysregulated in various cancer types resulting in an increased reliance on glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Ever since the identification of the Warburg effect, glucose metabolism has been considered a viable therapeutic target, however, current therapies targeting glucose metabolism in cancer have shown varying success. Therefore, there is a strong need for metabolic therapies to be developed to target dysregulated glucose metabolism in cancer.
Stage of Development
· Proof-of-concept in vitro and in vivo studies have been completed in seven tumor cell lines and three primary tumor cells.
· Looking for partners to develop pre-clinical pipeline for validation as cancer therapeutic.
