Exclusive selection advances f5 Therapeutics’ unique approach to “undruggable” targets.
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#biotechnology–f5 Therapeutics Incorporated, a privately-held pharmaceutical company developing small-molecule targeted protein degraders via their NExMods™ platform, today announced that they have been selected as one of five therapeutics companies as a ‘Cool Company’ Class of 2021. The renown ‘Cool Company’ program chooses a select few companies among hundreds in the San Diego area and recognizes them for their potential for Series A funding with top venture capital firms.
f5 Therapeutics’ mission is the discovery of new therapeutic biology to address high unmet medical needs in oncology, immuno-oncology, fibrosis and NASH (non-alcoholic liver inflammation). Taking a novel approach to established protein degradation therapeutics, f5 Therapeutics’ platform exploits previously undiscovered biological advantages of degradation through utilization of cell-based assays with physiologically relevant endpoints. Despite only a year after founding, f5 Therapeutics has advanced five pre-clinical programs that have produced positive in vitro activity across multiple therapeutic disease areas.
Targeted protein degradation mediated by small-molecule degraders represents a new and exciting therapeutic modality to eliminate disease-causing proteins previously deemed “undruggable.” This drug discovery approach recruits E3 ubiquitin ligases to the disease driving protein of interest to mediate its ubiquitination and subsequent proteolysis by the proteasome. Molecular glues can degrade proteins lacking a binding site by facilitating interactions between target protein and ligase.
“We are humbled by our selection to the 2021 class as there were over 200 submissions for this year’s competition,” said Gary Choy, Co-Founder and CEO of f5 Therapeutics. “We are thankful to the organizers and sponsors of this event and hope to continue their legacy of supporting successful startups in the San Diego area.”
“As one of the country’s first startup accelerators, Connect’s mission is to provide resources, support, and capital access to San Diego’s most promising startups,” said Mike Krenn, President and CEO of Connect, the organization that coordinates the annual ‘Cool Company’ capital program. “Working with esteemed sponsors, we are fortunate to choose among the areas ‘fastest and most exciting’ startups. We were very impressed by the quality of therapeutics and life science companies that applied to the process. f5 Therapeutics was one of the standout companies reviewed by our panel.”
Dr. Cynthia Cai, f5 Therapeutics’ board member added, “Congratulations to the team. Being selected as a ‘Cool Company’ further validates that f5 Therapeutics is on the fast track to developing innovative therapies. We look forward to having like-minded investors join us and supporting f5 along its exciting journey.”
About f5 Therapeutics Incorporated
f5 Therapeutics is a privately held pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of “First-in-Class” small molecules for the treatment of diseases with high unmet medical need. f5 Therapeutics continues to evolve targeted protein degradation to transform the landscape of drug discovery by utilizing the cell’s normal protein regulation systems to remove disease causing proteins that cannot be targeted by traditional approaches. The NExMods™ Platform (Neosubstrate Expression Modulators) represents a novel approach to “molecular glues” capable of delivering impactful medicines to patients across diverse therapeutic areas including oncology, immuno-oncology, fibrosis, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. To learn more: http://www.f5therapeutics.com
About Cool Companies
Connect.org is an official Small Business Development Center (SBDC), allowing them to offer services for free to startup businesses, and part of the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network. They are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the US Small Business Administration, and in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Cool Companies is Connect’s annual capital program designed to match San Diego’s top-performing technology and life sciences startups ready to raise Series A with quality venture capital. The program neutrally selects top tier, local entrepreneurs raising institutional funding, and grants them opportunities for direct access to capital providers, regularly attracting over 200 Venture Capitalists to the region annually. Since 2015, Cool Co’s have raised over $650M (in institutional Series A). To learn more: https://connect.org/cool-companies
Contacts
Gary Choy
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
garyc@f5therapeutics.com