Dracen Pharmaceuticals

About Dracen Pharmaceuticals

Dracen Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held biotechnology company focused on developing anti-cancer drugs that target immuno-metabolism, which combines immuno-oncology with cancer metabolism. Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from Johns Hopkins University, the company is based on the research of professors Barbara Slusher, Jonathan Powell, and Rana Rais, along with their collaborator Pavel Majer from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague. The company, led by CEO Thomas Estok, a veteran with over 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry, initially operated out of Baltimore and New York before establishing operations in San Diego, California.

The company's core strategy is to develop novel glutamine antagonists that disrupt the energy sources tumors require to survive while simultaneously activating the patient's immune system to combat the cancer. This approach aims to increase the number of patients who respond to anti-cancer therapy and improve survival rates. Dracen's lead product candidate is sirpiglenastat (DRP-104), a broad-acting glutamine antagonist prodrug designed to be activated within tumors, thereby minimizing systemic toxicity. DRP-104 works by irreversibly inhibiting all known enzymes involved in glutamine metabolism, leading to direct anti-tumor effects and a remodeling of the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune cell function. This mechanism is particularly aimed at "glutamine-addicted" cancers.

Dracen is developing its therapies for use as single agents and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The company has engaged in clinical collaborations, including a partnership with Merck to evaluate sirpiglenastat in combination with Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) for solid tumors. In 2021, the FDA granted Fast Track designation to sirpiglenastat for treating specific types of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The company's business model revolves around the clinical development and potential commercialization of its drug pipeline. It has secured significant funding to advance its programs, including a $40 million Series A round in 2018 led by Deerfield Management, which has been a major investor. By August 2023, the company had raised over $50 million in total funding.