Zeno Pharmaceuticals

About Zeno Pharmaceuticals

Zeno Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2012 by researchers from Xavier University. The company focuses on developing oncology therapeutics to address advanced or metastatic breast cancer. The scientific leadership is spearheaded by Dr. Guangdi Wang, who serves as the Principal Investigator and has dedicated 25 years to breast cancer research. His work, in collaboration with colleagues from the Louisiana Cancer Research Center (LCRC), has been foundational to the company's therapeutic pipeline.

Zeno's primary drug candidate, ZB716, is an oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) designed for patients with ER+/HER2- metastatic or advanced breast cancer. This investigational drug is the culmination of extensive research aimed at creating a more effective hormonal therapy. The company's portfolio also includes other potential treatments, such as boron-based prodrugs designed to overcome tamoxifen resistance, thiazole lead compounds that target metastasis by inhibiting cancer cell migration, and an anti-vasculature agent that aims to disrupt tumor blood supply. These drug candidates are at various preclinical testing stages.

A significant milestone for Zeno was securing a $4 million investment from Enhanced Bio, a South Korean drug development company, to fund a Phase 1 clinical trial for ZB716. This collaboration, initiated in early 2020, underscores the international interest in Zeno's lead compound. The trials are planned to take place in Seattle and South Korea. Zeno operates with a small team and has received funding to advance its research, positioning itself in a competitive global landscape to develop a first-in-class oral SERD.