We are building a nano‑immunotherapy delivery platform for immune‑evasive cancers.
Our initial focus is ovarian cancer, with a long‑term vision to enhance outcomes across multiple difficult‑to‑treat tumors by enhancing existing therapies.
Each year, more than 350,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer globally.
Most cases are detected at a late stage. Most often, these tumors have evaded immune detection.
85% of ovarian cancers are invisible to the immune system.
These are the tumors that kill.
We make invisible tumors visible
By blending known science with a new approach, we have created a way to expose evasive tumors to immune system attack.
For more than 50 years, scientists have known that Poly(I:C), a synthetic analog of viral double-standed RNA, can trigger powerful immune responses against cancer. But its clinical promise has remained unfulfilled because the high doses needed caused unacceptable toxicity.
Our patented nanoparticle solves the problem by delivering Poly(I:C) to tumors at doses that are safe and effective.
Our breakthrough
We combine known science with a radically new approach
We have developed a method to extract monodisperse phytoglycogen nanoparticles from sweet corn for use as a safe and effective drug carrier.
This discovery has made it possible to deliver Poly(I:C) to tumors safely, while at the same time boosting its effect.
- Phytoglycogen is approved as a food ingredient
- Monodisperse (uniform in size and highly pure)
- Capable of delivering compounds to tumors
Preclinical validation
Studies using ovarian cancer mouse models support the safety and therapeutic potential of the platform.
- Primary tumors reduced by ~70% within two weeks
- Metastatic tumors reduced by 60–80%
- No observed toxic effects
A new drug delivery platform
Our unique glucose-based monodisperse nanoparticles deliver the agonist where it’s needed, triggering a strong TLR-3 response at dosages well below those known to be toxic for the naked agonist.
- Strong immune response
- Non-toxic
- Stable in blood