TransTech Pharma

About TransTech Pharma

TransTech Pharma, LLC operates as a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutics for unmet medical needs. The company was founded in 1999 by Dr. Adnan M. M. Mjalli, an internationally recognized expert in drug discovery and development with prior experience at Merck & Co., who served as the company's President and CEO until his resignation in March 2014. Dr. Mjalli has authored over 40 scientific papers and holds 30 patents.

The company's core asset is its proprietary drug discovery platform, TTP Translational Technology®, a high-throughput system designed to translate the functional modulation of human proteins into safe and effective small-molecule medicines. This platform has enabled TransTech to build a diverse pipeline of clinical and pre-clinical drug candidates targeting a wide array of diseases, including central nervous system disorders, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and cancer. TransTech's business model revolves around internal discovery and in-house research and development, supplemented by strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies. A notable partnership was a 2006 agreement with Pfizer Inc. for the development and commercialization of RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts) modulators, which included upfront and milestone payments of up to $155 million plus royalties.

A key product candidate developed through its platform is TTP488 (now known as Azeliragon), a novel, orally active small-molecule antagonist of RAGE. This compound is being investigated for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The mechanism of action for TTP488 involves preventing the interaction between amyloid beta and RAGE, which is believed to be a crucial factor in amyloid plaque formation and chronic neural dysfunction associated with Alzheimer's. Clinical trials have shown that TTP488 can slow cognitive decline in patients. The FDA granted Fast Track designation for TTP488 and agreed to a Special Protocol Assessment for its Phase 3 trial design. Another significant candidate is TTP054, an orally active GLP-1 receptor agonist for controlling glucose in type 2 diabetes. In 2011, TransTech established a subsidiary, High Point Clinical Trials Center, LLC, to conduct early-phase clinical trials. The company, which formerly operated as TransTech Pharma, became vTv Therapeutics and was listed on the Nasdaq in 2015.