Lutris Pharma

About Lutris Pharma

Lutris Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded in 2016 by Dr. Antoni Ribas, focused on improving the effectiveness and quality of life for cancer patients. The company is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. Dr. Ribas, who also serves as the Chairman of the Board, is a Professor at UCLA and has been instrumental in the clinical development of several FDA-approved anti-cancer agents, including Keytruda®.

The company develops topical treatments to manage the severe dermatological side effects caused by anti-cancer therapies like EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) inhibitors and radiation. These side effects, such as acneiform lesions and radiation dermatitis, often force patients to reduce or discontinue their primary cancer treatments. Lutris Pharma aims to address this issue, allowing patients to adhere to their prescribed anti-cancer regimens. The company's business model centers on the development and eventual commercialization of its proprietary drug candidates, with an accelerated development pathway for oncological indications granted by the FDA.

Lutris Pharma's lead product is LUT014, a first-in-class, topical B-Raf inhibitor gel. It is designed to mitigate dermal toxicities by leveraging the paradoxical effect of B-Raf inhibitors, which stimulates the growth of normal skin cells, counteracting the damage caused by cancer therapies. LUT014 has undergone a Phase 2 clinical trial for treating acneiform lesions in metastatic colorectal cancer patients and a successful Phase 1/2 study for radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients. The company has also received a grant to develop another candidate, LUT017, for non-healing skin ulcers like venous leg ulcers.

In January 2025, Lutris Pharma secured $30 million in a Series B financing round led by Columbus Venture Partners and existing investor Pontifax Venture Capital, with participation from Peregrine Ventures and aMoon Fund. This funding is intended to advance the clinical development of LUT014 through Phase 3 trials and towards commercialization. The estimated market potential for LUT014 is projected at $1 billion, not including the potential increase in sales of EGFR inhibitor drugs due to better patient adherence.