Femtogenix

Femtogenix is a biotechnology company spun out from King's College London in 2015, focused on developing highly potent DNA-interactive molecules, or "payloads," for use in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to treat cancer. The company was founded by Professor David Thurston, Dr. Khondaker Miraz Rahman, and Dr. Paul Jackson, building on their research at King's College London. This founding team aimed to replicate the success of their previous venture, Spirogen, which was acquired by AstraZeneca. Thurston, who serves as Chief Scientific Officer, has extensive experience in the field, having also co-founded Spirogen. The initial Series A funding was provided by Research Corporation Technologies (RCT), which was also an early investor in Spirogen. In March 2022, the company secured $36.6M in a Series B round.

The company's business model is centered on developing its proprietary payload platform and then partnering with and licensing its technology to biopharmaceutical companies. This allows its novel payloads to be combined with third-party targeting systems, such as monoclonal antibodies, to create next-generation ADCs. Femtogenix has established licensing agreements with companies like Iksuda Therapeutics to incorporate its payloads into their ADC programs for difficult-to-treat solid tumors.

Femtogenix's core technology is its Pyridinobenzodiazepine (PDD) payload platform, which utilizes computational chemistry and deep expertise in DNA-targeted drug discovery. This platform designs molecules that bind to the minor groove of DNA in a sequence-selective manner, leading to targeted cytotoxicity in tumor cells while minimizing systemic side effects. Key features of these payloads include a novel mechanism of action, minimal hydrophobicity, and resistance to P-Glycoprotein pumps in cancer cells, which often cause drug resistance. The technology allows for the creation of payloads with a range of potencies and the development of both mono-alkylators and DNA cross-linking agents, overcoming some limitations of existing ADC technologies.

Keywords: antibody-drug conjugates, ADC payloads, cancer therapy, drug discovery, Pyridinobenzodiazepine, PDD platform, DNA-interactive molecules, oncology, biopharmaceuticals, cancer treatment, targeted therapy, cytotoxicity, DNA minor groove, mono-alkylators, DNA cross-linking, drug licensing, solid tumors, biopharma partnering, computational chemistry, drug development