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COMPANY OVERVIEW
Palena Therapeutics is a drug discovery and development company focused on commercializing novel targeted immunomodulatory peptides for autoimmune diseases. The Company was founded in 2020 by Dr. Masha Fridkis-Hareli, an immunobiologist with more than 25 years of experience developing therapeutics for the treatment of immune disorders. Palena aims to build on Dr. Fridkis-Hareli’s initial research at Harvard University that identified the therapeutic applications of random copolymers for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The Company’s rational drug design platform, identifies immunomodulatory peptides, termed embedded epitope random peptides (EERPs), that function by selectively inhibiting the immune response of the body against itself. More specifically, EERPs inhibit antigen binding to the MHC class II proteins which represents one of the initiating events in many autoimmune diseases, resulting in a more targeted therapeutic that does not shut down the immune system like many current disease- modifying therapeutics available for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease. Palena has spent the past two years conducting proof-of-concept studies in animal models of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis and is looking to raise investment capital to move its lead MS-EERP candidate through preclinical toxicology and file an Investigational New Drug Application (IND).
INDICATIONS
Palena is focused on the therapeutic applications of embedded epitope random copolymers for the treatment of pediatric multiple sclerosis, a rare form of MS. Moreover, its rational drug design platform may have application in additional orphan autoimmune diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, autoimmune uveitis, as well as more common diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn’s disease among others. Palena has filed an initial patent application on this novel immunomodulatory peptide therapeutic platform and anticipates additional patent applications on a worldwide basis as the therapeutics progress toward clinical studies. The Company is planning to complete IND enabling studies of its novel MS-EERP for multiple sclerosis (MS), followed by a Phase 1/2a clinical trial in Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) to enable a Phase 2a study in pediatric MS as well as screening and testing of EERPs for additional autoimmune diseases.