Proteolix

Proteolix, Inc. was a biotechnology company headquartered in South San Francisco, California, focused on developing medicines that acted on the proteasome, a cellular protein-disposal system. The company was founded in 2003 around research developed by Craig M. Crews of Yale University and Raymond J. Deshaies of the California Institute of Technology. Susan Molineaux and Phil Whitcome also joined the founding team. Its scientific premise was that selectively interfering with proteasome activity could disrupt the survival of cancer cells and potentially modulate immune-system activity. The company launched with an $18.2 million Series A financing from Latterell Venture Partners, US Venture Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, and The Vertical Group. Proteolix used this capital to advance a pipeline centered on proteasome inhibitors. Its leading program, PR-171, was carfilzomib, a tetrapeptide epoxyketone administered intravenously. The compound was designed to inhibit proteasomes and thereby prevent the breakdown of proteins inside cells. This mechanism was particularly relevant to multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, and Proteolix investigated the candidate in multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other cancers. Proteolix's earlier-stage research portfolio included PR-047, an orally bioavailable proteasome inhibitor intended for oncology applications, and PR-957, an agent designed to preferentially target the immunoproteasome, a specialized form of the proteasome involved in immune-cell function. The latter program suggested possible applications beyond cancer, including inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. These projects reflected Proteolix's broader strategy of treating the proteasome as a therapeutic platform rather than developing a single isolated drug. In 2009, Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquired Proteolix for a nominal value of $810 million. Following the transaction, Onyx continued development of PR-171 and renamed it ONX 0912 and PR-957 ONX 0914. PR-171 was subsequently commercialized by Onyx under the name Kyprolis, becoming the principal clinical and commercial legacy of Proteolix. Onyx Pharmaceuticals was later acquired by Amgen, making Proteolix's principal drug program part of Amgen's oncology portfolio. Proteolix is therefore best understood as a defunct biotechnology company whose research platform and lead drug candidate were absorbed into a larger pharmaceutical organization rather than as an independently operating brand.

Proteolix was established in 2003 as a private biotechnology company built around proteasome research associated with Craig M. Crews at Yale University and Raymond J. Deshaies at the California Institute of Technology. Susan Molineaux and Phil Whitcome were also identified as co-founders. The company's scientific focus was the proteasome, a large protein complex that breaks down unwanted or damaged proteins within cells. Proteolix sought to turn this biological mechanism into a drug-development platform, particularly for oncology and, in the case of immunoproteasome research, inflammatory disease. The company began operations with an $18.2 million Series A financing. The participating investors were Latterell Venture Partners, US Venture Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, and The Vertical Group. This financing supported development of a portfolio of small-molecule proteasome inhibitors. Proteolix's most advanced program was PR-171, later known as carfilzomib. The compound was a tetrapeptide epoxyketone designed for intravenous administration and was investigated primarily as a treatment for multiple myeloma. The company also explored its possible use in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers. Proteolix maintained additional discovery and early-development programs. PR-047 was described as an orally bioavailable proteasome inhibitor with oncology potential. PR-957 was designed to preferentially inhibit the immunoproteasome, a proteasome form associated with immune-cell activity. That program offered a possible route into diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, although the company's principal strategic and commercial emphasis remained cancer treatment. The decisive event in Proteolix's corporate history occurred in 2009, when Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquired the company for a nominal value of $810 million. The transaction ended Proteolix's existence as an independent biotechnology business and transferred its programs to Onyx. Onyx renamed PR-047 as ONX 0912 and PR-957 as ONX 0914. PR-171 remained the most important asset and was developed and sold by Onyx as Kyprolis. Onyx Pharmaceuticals subsequently became a subsidiary of Amgen following Amgen's acquisition of Onyx. As a result, the principal product and scientific legacy of Proteolix moved through two larger pharmaceutical organizations. Proteolix's history illustrates the role of venture-backed biotechnology companies in originating specialized drug platforms that are later commercialized by established pharmaceutical companies. The company did not become a listed, enduring consumer-facing brand; its identity and independent operations effectively ended with the Onyx acquisition.

• 2009

  Acquisition by Onyx Pharmaceuticals

  [1]Proteolixen.wikipedia.org

  Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquired Proteolix for a nominal value of $810 million, taking over its proteasome-inhibitor programs.

• 2003

  Proteolix founded

  [1]Proteolixen.wikipedia.org

  Proteolix was founded around proteasome research developed by Craig M. Crews and Raymond J. Deshaies, with Susan Molineaux and Phil Whitcome also joining as co-founders.

• 2003

  Series A financing

  [1]Proteolixen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched with an $18.2 million financing round backed by Latterell Venture Partners, US Venture Partners, Advanced Technology Ventures, and The Vertical Group.

• PR-171 becomes Kyprolis

  [1]Proteolixen.wikipedia.org

  Onyx Pharmaceuticals continued the development of Proteolix's lead candidate PR-171 as carfilzomib and marketed it under the name Kyprolis.

A specialist biotechnology developer focused on proteasome biology and targeted therapeutics for cancer and potentially immune-mediated disease.

• Oncology medicine / proteasome inhibitor

  Carfilzomib

  Carfilzomib, originally designated PR-171, was Proteolix's lead product candidate. It is a tetrapeptide epoxyketone that inhibits proteasomes and was administered intravenously. Proteolix investigated the compound primarily for multiple myeloma, while also exploring potential applications in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers. After Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquired Proteolix, the compound was developed and sold as Kyprolis.

• Oral oncology research compound

  PR-047

  PR-047 was an earlier-stage Proteolix program aimed at creating an orally bioavailable proteasome inhibitor for oncology. Following the acquisition of Proteolix, Onyx Pharmaceuticals renamed the program ONX 0912. The available reference material does not establish a commercial launch or final development outcome.

• Immunoproteasome inhibitor research compound

  PR-957

  PR-957 was an early-stage compound intended to preferentially target the immunoproteasome, a specialized proteasome form involved in immune function. Proteolix identified possible applications in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Onyx Pharmaceuticals renamed the program ONX 0914 after acquiring Proteolix. No commercial launch is established in the supplied reference material.

• 2009

  Accept acquisition by Onyx PharmaceuticalsM&A

  Background

  Proteolix had built a proteasome-inhibitor pipeline led by PR-171, with additional early-stage oncology and immunoproteasome programs. Onyx Pharmaceuticals pursued the company to obtain these assets and their development potential.

  Action taken

  Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquired Proteolix for a nominal value of $810 million. The Proteolix programs were integrated into Onyx's development portfolio.

  Aftermath

  Proteolix ceased operating as an independent company. PR-171 became carfilzomib and was marketed by Onyx as Kyprolis, while PR-047 and PR-957 were renamed ONX 0912 and ONX 0914.

  Acquisition value. $810 million nominal transaction value (2009)

  Source

1. 1Proteolixen.wikipedia.org