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ImStar Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company headquartered in Vancouver that is developing new approaches to treat patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

The company is developing compounds directed at a proprietary new therapeutic target for ALS discovered by co-founder Dr. Jean-Pierre Julien called TANA (i.e. TDP-43 Associated NF-kB Activation). The lead drug candidate, IMS-088, is a novel small molecule compound targeting the NF-kB activation pathway currently in preclinical development for ALS.

IMS-088 is the first in a series of novel compounds derived from withaferin A (WA), a natural withanolide isolated from the leaves of the winter cherry plant (withania somnifera).  In preclinical animal studies, WA showed promise but lacked suitable pharmacologic characteristics to be developed as a therapeutic drug.

Therapeutics targeting the TANA pathway could treat multiple neurodegenerative diseases expressing TDP-43 pathology such as ALS, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Dementia.

TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) was recently identified as a major disease-associated protein in ALS. Under normal conditions, TDP-43 regulates RNA and is predominantly localized in the nucleus. However, in ALS-affected neuronal cells the protein is misprocessed resulting in aggregation in the cytoplasm and a loss of motor function.

A recent discovery has shown that, in patients with ALS, TDP-43 unexpectedly associates with and activates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), an inflammation-regulating protein. This leads to exaggerated immune responses and motor neuron destruction. Inhibition of the pathway in an ALS disease model produced substantial improvements in disease and motor function illustrating this is an important new drug target.

Novel Withanolides

ImStar chemists have designed novel withanolides related to WA that have superior drug like properties. IMS-088 is the lead drug candidate in this series that is currently being developed for ALS. These compounds are covered by a new composition of matter patent filing.

TANA Inhibitors

ImStar is also developing various approaches to block TDP-43 activity and has identified novel single chain variable domain antibody fragments (scFv) that inhibit TDP-43 and block it's associated NF-kB activation. 

JBI is a Midwest-based biotechnology company driven to develop a new class of therapies to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. 

JBI’s unique approach is able to lower the production of Amyloid Beta (Aβ), phosphorylated Tau (pTau) and toxic intracellular Aβ aggregates.  Our passion is to develop a therapy to restore the patient’s lifespan and improve patient quality of life.

JBI is focused on further developing its lead compound, JBI-009, based on the strength of compelling preclinical safety and efficacy results to date.

JBI’s approach represents a new wave in thinking about the treatment of AD.  Currently available drugs treat disease symptoms, rather than its suspected cause, and do so with limited success.  Most drugs in late-stage clinical development are attempting to address a likely cause of the disease, the accumulation of Aβ, by potently inhibiting the enzyme responsible for Aβ production.  As this enzyme has other important biological functions, this approach has seen early failures because of unacceptable side effects.  JBI's approach is unique in that it modulates the production of this enzyme rather than inhibits its activity.  JBI’s approach is expected to restore enzyme activity and Aβ production to normal levels with a favorable safety advantage.

JBI’s technology is also unique in that it targets cellular machinery within the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER).  Most drug developers have focused on modifying activity that occurs either on the cell membrane or within the cell nucleus or cytosol.  JBI is one of the first, if not the first, to successfully target activity within the ER.  The discoveries employed by JBI have produced a lead compound that affects the enzyme responsible for controlling the rate-limiting step in Aβ production, penetrates the blood brain barrier, and shows no toxicity in IND feasibility safety studies.  In addition, work has begun on next generation compounds.  This ER-focused approach provides platform potential for future therapies to treat additional significant unmet medical needs.

Joslin Diabetes Center is a foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts that was founded in 1898, and is the world's largest diabetes and clinical care organization.

JT Pharma, the Pharmaceutical Division of Japan Tobacco (Akros Pharma, US; Torii, Japan) has broad therapeutic interests with a focus on cutting edge, innovative science and orally active small molecule therapeutics in diabetes, lipid regulation, osteoporosis (small molecule anabolic agents), HIV, HBV, fibrosis, pain, autoimmune diseases, inflammation (RA and OA), urological diseases, allergy, and new drug discovery and development tools. Torii, the marketing division of JT Pharma Division, is interested in late stage, i.e. late Ph3, close to registration drugs for the Japanese market. Torii’s areas of interest are: renal diseases including CKD and complications from hemodialysis, dermatology, atopic dermatitis (preferably given orally), psoriasis, allergy, i.e. antigen-specific immunotherapy, asthma, and rhinitis. JT Pharma and Torii are looking for commercializable technologies or products for collaborative R&D deals or in- licensing deals. 
JT Pharma seeks partnering opportunities, i.e., research and/or development collaborations, contract research and licensing arrangements, to enhance its own internal R&D efforts. Also, Japan Tobacco’s marketing division, Torii Pharmaceuticals, seeks late-stage clinical opportunities for the Japanese Market.
JT Pharma has an interest in early-stage, novel small molecule therapeutics focusing on diabetes,lipid regulation, HIV, HBV, autoimmune disease, inflammation (RA, OA, asthma, allergy), fibrosis, osteoporosis, overactive bladder, and pain (non-CNS) as well as new drug discovery and development tools. Compounds must have composition of matter patents.

Torii Pharmaceuticals is seeking drugs in clinical trials for licensing and marketing in Japan with a focus on dermatology (eczema, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, onychomycosis, ), allergy, and kidney diseases.

JT Pharma is dedicated to the discovery, development, and sales of novel human therapeutics. In addition to the North American facilities mentioned above, most of JT Pharma’s new drug discovery and development work is performed within its Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute, located in Osaka. They also have a molecular biology research laboratory in Yokohama and a toxicology research facility in Hadano, Japan.

Kineta® is a nationally-recognized biotechnology company focused on developing leading edge therapeutics in three large high need therapeutic areas: autoimmune disease, viral disease and chronic pain. Our company is focused on the development of novel drug candidates each the outcome of years of scientific exploration and supported by an extensive body of peer-reviewed NIH-supported research.

Life Science Angels Inc was founded in 2004 and is based in Sunnyvale CA. The group makes early-stage equity investments in a wide range of life science companies. Life Science Angels invests primarily in California but is open to investing out of state provided a round is being syndicated with a local angel group. Life Science Angels does not rule out investing outside the USA but has yet to do so. The group invests as individuals and allocation sizes are therefore highly varied but are usually of about $2-$6, Life Science Angels usually invests in rounds seeking $3 million or less. The group is interested in syndicating rounds with other angel groups.

Life Science Nation (LSN) is the premier sourcing platform for market intelligence and prospect pipeline development in the life science arena. LSN enables life science professionals to generate a list of qualified global targets that are a fit for their company’s products, services, and fundraising efforts. The ability to generate these Global Target Lists (GTLs) makes life science professionals more effective and efficient.