Curve Therapeutics Company Profile

Background

Curve Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company headquartered in Southampton, UK, specializing in the development of innovative therapeutics targeting complex and challenging disease targets. Founded in 2019, the company leverages its proprietary Microcycle® platform to discover biologically active molecules within live mammalian cells, aiming to transform patient outcomes in oncology, immunology, and inflammation.

Key Strategic Focus

Curve Therapeutics focuses on:

• Innovative Drug Discovery: Utilizing the Microcycle® platform to identify functional hits and leads against intracellular targets that are difficult to address with conventional methods.

• Oncology and Beyond: Developing a pipeline of first-in-class therapeutics, including a dual inhibitor of HIF-1 and HIF-2, and an inhibitor of ATIC homodimerization, targeting vulnerabilities in various cancers.

• Strategic Collaborations: Partnering with major pharmaceutical companies to enhance drug discovery capabilities and expand therapeutic pipelines.

Financials and Funding

In February 2024, Curve Therapeutics secured a £40.5 million Series A financing round led by Pfizer Ventures, with participation from Columbus Venture Partners and British Patient Capital, alongside existing investors Advent Life Sciences and Epidarex Capital. The funds are allocated to advancing the Microcycle® platform and progressing the company's pipeline into clinical development.

Pipeline Development

Curve Therapeutics' pipeline includes:

• Dual HIF-1/HIF-2 Inhibitor: A first-in-class therapeutic targeting survival mechanisms in over half of solid tumors.

• ATIC Dimerization Inhibitor: A novel approach addressing a critical vulnerability in multiple cancers.

These programs are advancing towards clinical development, with timelines aligned to leverage the recent Series A funding.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Curve Therapeutics' proprietary Microcycle® platform is distinguished by:

• Intracellular Screening: Enables functional screening of diverse hexameric cyclic peptide libraries within live mammalian cells, identifying biologically active molecules against therapeutic targets.

• Native Conformation Targeting: Allows both the library and target to exist in their native conformations, enhancing the relevance and efficacy of identified compounds.

• Small Molecule Transformation: The compact and rigid structure of Microcycles® facilitates the design of non-peptide small molecule leads, offering advantages over other cyclic peptide technologies.

Leadership Team

• Simon Kerry, PhD, MBA: Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, with over 30 years of experience in European biotechnology leadership roles.

• Professor Ali Tavassoli: Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, Professor of Chemical Biology at the University of Southampton, and developer of the Microcycle® technology.

• Simon Jones: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, with over 20 years of experience in biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, including significant venture fundraising and deal-making.

• Dr. Monika Ermann: Vice President of Drug Discovery, bringing over two decades of experience in drug discovery and a strong track record of delivering innovative programs.

• Dr. Sally Price: Vice President of Biology, contributing extensive expertise to the company's research initiatives.

• Dr. Rab Prinjha: Chief Research and Development Officer, with a proven track record in leading drug discovery programs across oncology, neuroscience, and epigenetics.

• Dr. Andre Hoekema: Chair of the Board, bringing over four decades of successful biotech and life science leadership.

• Dr. Cora Griffin: Head of Business Development, with considerable experience in developing and implementing portfolio strategies from start-ups to large pharmaceutical companies.

Leadership Changes

Recent appointments include Dr. Rab Prinjha as Chief R&D Officer in October 2024, Dr. Andre Hoekema as Chair of the Board, and Dr. Cora Griffin as Head of Business Development, reflecting the company's commitment to strengthening its leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The global drug discovery market is projected to reach $73.9 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2021. The demand for innovative drug discovery platforms is expanding rapidly, with sales of drug discovery technologies reaching $32.4 billion in 2022 and expectations to increase by 10% annually.

Competitor Analysis

Curve Therapeutics operates in a competitive landscape with several key players:

• Exscientia: Specializes in AI-driven drug discovery, focusing on accelerating the development of novel therapeutics.

• Evotec: Offers a broad range of drug discovery and development services, collaborating with various pharmaceutical companies.

• Ablynx: Develops Nanobody® therapeutics, targeting a range of diseases with a focus on oncology and inflammation.

These competitors emphasize advanced technologies and strategic partnerships to enhance their drug discovery capabilities.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

In February 2022, Curve Therapeutics entered a global research collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, to discover and validate modulators of up to five therapeutic targets using its Microcycle® technology, initially for oncology.