Our lead development program is a novel, first-in-class, targeted immuno-oncology gene therapy for the treatment of multiple cancers. We have partnered with City of Hope for CpG-STAT3siRNA, or CO-sTiRNA™, a STAT3 inhibitor. In pre-clinical testing at City of Hope, CO-sTiRNA™ has successfully reduced growth and metastasis of various pre-clinical tumor models, including melanoma, and colon and bladder cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphoma. CO-sTiRNA™ is initially being developed for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
In pre-clinical testing, CO-sTiRNA™ has successfully reduced growth and metastasis of various tumor models.
In collaboration with City of Hope, Phase 1 clinical trials for additional cancer indications are being contemplated for CO-sTiRNA™ in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, or CAR-Ts.
Our second lead development program is MRI-1867, a peripherally-restricted, dual-action cannabinoid-1, or CB1, receptor inverse agonist and inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, or iNOS. We have partnered with the NIH for MRI-1867 and are initially targeting systemic sclerosis, or SSc. Over-activation of CB1 and iNOS has been implicated in the pathophysiology of SSc, which includes fibrosis of the skin, lung, kidney, heart and the gastrointestinal tract.
We are also partnered with Hebrew University on several additional research and development programs. These programs relate to a proprietary opioid-sparing anesthetic and synthesis of novel compounds and new chemical entities.