Innovative Science
Karus's research and development strategy is focused on the design and development of new small molecule anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs that function through the regulation of lipid kinase signalling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms.
Immune/Inflammatory Disease
The selective inhibition of HDAC6, and the inhibition of PI3K-p110δ, have emerged as important new therapeutic strategies. Karus's innovative, orally-active inhibitors of these key enzymes, which govern Th17 cell and regulatory T cell function, show great promise as important new treatments for a diverse range of immune/inflammatory diseases.
The company's HDAC6 programme is built on a novel class of potent and highly-selective small-molecule inhibitors. Karus's leading HDAC6-selective inhibitors show outstanding oral efficacy in models of rheumatoid arthritis and are expected to be the first-in-class treatments for a diverse range of immune/inflammatory diseases. There is further potential for Karus's HDAC6 inhibitors in the treatment of cancer, and breakthrough potential for these compounds in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, notably Alzheimer's disease.
We have extensive experience gained over many years in the field of PI3K inhibition, and have successfully designed and developed a novel series of highly-selective, orally-active PI3K-p110δ and dual-specific p110δ/β inhibitors. Karus's leading inhibitors show exceptional efficacy in models of rheumatoid arthritis and are expected to be the best-in-class treatments for a wide range of immune/inflammatory diseases.
Cancer
Inhibiting the zinc-dependent HDACs has become an important strategy for the treatment of haematological cancers. At Karus, we have discovered a new class of HDAC inhibitors that display exceptional potency and which have unique pharmacodynamic properties:
our lead compound in this series is poised to become a best-in-class treatment for a range of haematological and solid tumours.
In our lipid kinase signalling programme, we have discovered and developed a new class of orally-active small molecule dual-specific p110δ/β inhibitors, that target PTEN-null solid and haematological tumours.
At Karus, our R&D activities have focused on the design and development of innovative, orally-active medicines that targeting lipid kinase signalling and epigenetic mechanisms. Through such mechanisms, these compounds target key cell types in immune/inflammatory disease - including Th17 cells and T-regs - and PTEN-null tumours in cancer, and they have exceptional therapeutic properties. Our efforts have led to the development of three exciting, novel R&D programmes, that have tremendous clinical and commercial potential.
Stephen Shuttleworth PhD FRSC, Chief Scientific Officer
Karus Therapeutics Ltd
2 Venture Road
Southampton Science Park
Chilworth
Hampshire
SO16 7NP
United Kingdom