Our Pipeline
Lead Candidates
Trastuzumab-based antibody-drug conjugate
Our lead product is an antibody polar drug conjugate (APDC) developed using our proprietary OmniLink® technology. This APDC, like the approved Kadcyla® consists of the cytotoxic maytansinoid drug conjugated to the trastuzumab antibody. With our proprietary Polarpeutic and linker technologies, the same trastuzumab-maytansinoid combination carries two to three times more drug per antibody compared to Kadycla® with durations of cancer cell killing efficacy exceeding those of Kadcyla® and Enhertu® in multiple preclinical tumor xenograft models. We are planning to move the candidate forward into preclinical and early phase clinical development in 2023 with metastatic breast cancer as the initial indication with further indication expansion expected as development progresses.
Cancer immunotherapy
Our technology platform extends beyond traditional treatments utilizing cytotoxic drugs. For our second lead candidate, we successfully applied our technologies to create drug product candidates for cancer treatments via immunotherapy. Instead of cytotoxic drugs, a Polarpeutic agonist of a toll-like receptor (TLR) is conjugated to the antibody, which recruits immune cells to the tumor cells and activates them in situ. Initial results from the gastric cancer tumor xenograft model are highly successful and demonstrated full tumor elimination. Furthermore, subsequent challenge of repeat tumor inoculation showed robust inhibition of tumor growth in the treated animals. Results are indicative of long term immune memory against new tumor formation. Tripartite Therapeutics is optimizing the cancer immunotherapy candidate with plans to move the candidate forward for development in 2023 – 2024.
Product Pipeline & Platform Technology Applications
Dual-payload antibody drug conjugates
Traditional ADCs consist of a single type of cytotoxic payload conjugated onto the antibody. We have been successful in conjugating a combination of different cytotoxic payloads onto our APDC, including maytansinoids, irinotecan derivatives, camptothecin analogues, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The combination of different Polarpeutic payloads creates opportunities for more effective tumor killing through multiple mechanisms synergistically that are more difficult for the cancer to develop resistance against. We are investigating different types of payloads for an optimized combination as a future candidate in the product pipeline.
Dual-targeting antibody drug conjugates
Traditional antibodies have highly specific affinities against a single target biomarker. While novel technological development have given rise to bispecific antibodies with affinities towards two different targets, we have taken the development a step further with the capability to add an additional targeting capability via our linkers to make a traditional antibody bispecific, and a bispecific antibody tri-specific. The additional targeting opens up opportunities for a myriad of applications such as taking advantage of complimentary biological processes to suppress tumor growth or tackling cancer cell heterogeneity by targeting different biomarkers on the different cancer cell types in a tumor.
Broad spectrum nanoparticle drugs for oncology
While targeted therapies based on antibodies have proven effective for many types of cancer, some malignancies do not exhibit an over-expression of bio-markers for antibody-based targeted therapies to be a valid option. In these cases, nanoparticles can achieve passive targeting by preferentially accumulating in the tumor tissue due to its abnormal growth of blood vessel with loose junctions (commonly known as the enhanced permeability and retention effect, or EPR effect). When not conjugated to antibodies, our linker-drug combination can be designed to form nanoparticles that are highly stable with minimal premature release of the drug while in systemic circulation, allowing the use of more potent drugs that would otherwise lead to unacceptable toxicities.
Sustained release glucose control for Type II diabetes
Existing therapies based on the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP1) mechanism for blood sugar control are highly effect but required weekly subcutaneous dosing intervals. With our ProDepo® technology, we aim to extend the stability and pharmacokinetic profile to provide robust blood glucose control for two weeks or more.