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Our scientific founder Alexey Ryazanov discovered and characterized a new class of enzymes, the alpha kinases. Over the course of several NIH grants, we translated the research across several disease domains and into a new class of drugs. In preclinical models, the drug platform is showing promise in cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. 

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At the heart of our current efforts is an alpha kinase enzyme called eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which controls the balance between cell death and rejuvenation. Our recent research has demonstrated a new mechanism vs. Alzheimer’s disease that is effective and characterized at the synaptic, cellular, and whole-organism levels. EF2K inhibition has also been shown to protect healthy cells from radiation and chemotherapy while rendering cancer cells more vulnerable to the same. The platform has in particular demonstrated significant promise in cancer immunotherapy. Further details are available under confidentiality.