Tragara

About Tragara

Tragara Pharmaceuticals, operating as Adastra Pharmaceuticals since January 2019, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm concentrated on developing proprietary medicines for oncology. Founded in 2005 and commencing operations in 2007, the company was established by Dr. Eckard Weber of Domain Associates and is managed by a team with extensive experience in both large pharmaceutical corporations and biotechnology startups. The company initially launched with a significant $40 million Series A financing round, backed by investors including Domain Associates, Morganthaler Ventures, and ProQuest Investments.

The company's business model is centered on the in-licensing, clinical development, and eventual commercialization of novel cancer therapeutics. Its primary asset is zotiraciclib (TG02), an orally administered multi-kinase inhibitor. A key attribute of TG02 is its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, a significant challenge in the development of drugs for brain tumors. The drug's mechanism involves potent inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), which leads to the depletion of key cancer cell survival proteins and induces apoptosis. This mechanism gives it potential efficacy against a range of tumors, with a particular focus on aggressive brain cancers like glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Tragara, now Adastra, has guided TG02 through several clinical trial phases. Initial Phase I trials began in 2010 for patients with advanced hematologic malignancies like multiple myeloma and various leukemias. Subsequent trials, often in collaboration with institutions like the National Cancer Institute (NCI), have explored TG02's efficacy in combination with standard treatments like temozolomide for recurrent high-grade gliomas. In January 2019, to reflect a strategic pivot towards these advanced brain cancer indications, the company rebranded as Adastra Pharmaceuticals, appointed Scott Megaffin as CEO, and expanded operations by opening an office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company was acquired by Percans Oncology on September 7, 2021.