We are Problem Solvers
and Proven Drug Developers.
At DTx, we are a group of flexible, innovative thinkers who are determined to solve one of the biggest challenges limiting the development of genetic medicines. Anchored by our expertise in RNA therapeutics and our proprietary FALCON™ platform, we’ve developed a unique pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates to help patients with neuromuscular, muscle, and CNS diseases.
To advance the FALCON platform toward and into clinical development, DTx has raised more than $100M in combined investment from world’s leading healthcare investors including RA Capital and Access Biotechnology, pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly, the National Institute of Health (NIH), and research foundations such as the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF).
Unlocking Oligonucleotide Therapeutics.
RNA medicines can address countless disease targets, currently undruggable by small molecules or biologics, by inhibiting or altering the expression of disease-causing genes.
Historically, this class of medications, which includes siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides, has been hampered by challenges with drug delivery.
DTx Pharma FALCON technology addresses the fundamental challenges associated with delivering RNA therapeutics by leveraging fatty acid receptors for cellular uptake and leveraging fatty acid albumin interactions to promote biodistribution. Our team has created a platform called FALCON™ (Fatty Acid Ligand Conjugated OligoNucleotide) that promotes efficient non-toxic cellular uptake and enhanced systemic bioavailability. We combine the latest in RNA technology with our own proprietary IP to create novel therapies that can efficiently reach targets beyond the liver, taking RNA therapeutics to new heights.
FALCON:
Fatty Acid Ligand Conjugated OligoNucleotide
DTx’s strategy to advance our unique platform is to:
Focus on genetically-defined diseases
Prioritize indications with limited competition where DTx can own the space
Explore partnering opportunities across on-strategy therapeutics areas and in novel therapeutic areas where our FALCON technology can provide value
Our Lead Programs
Peripheral Nervous System
Our FALCON platform enables delivery of RNA therapeutics to key tissues impacted in neuromuscular diseases, including muscle, heart and peripheral nerves. Our lead program is a FALCON siRNA targeting a rare neuromuscular disease, and we have demonstrated that our therapeutic leads to potent and durable knock down of the relevant target and a reversal of the disease in a preclinical rodent model. We anticipate moving our first clinical candidate for neuromuscular disease into clinical development in 2023.
Muscle
Our FALCON platform permits RNA therapeutics to be delivered to skeletal muscle, and we have shown that our FALCON siRNAs can achieve potent and durable knockdown of therapeutic targets across multiple muscle tissues. We are making excellent progress optimizing this program and expect to nominate our first development candidate for a muscle disorder in Q4, 2022.
CNS
DTx has demonstrated that our FALCON platform enables the delivery of RNA therapeutics to the brain in several cell types to treat neurodegenerative diseases. We have multiple programs ongoing with data demonstrating preclinical in vivo proof of concept and plan to nominate our first development candidate in 2023.
Other Tissues
DTx is exploring the utility of FALCON in additional tissue types to expand the therapeutic areas we can address with RNA therapeutics. Human primary cell data and in vivo biodistribution studies suggest additional tissues are within reach.
Our Leadership Team
Arthur T. Suckow, PhD
Co-founder and CEOArthur T. Suckow, PhD
Dr. Suckow founded DTx Pharma in 2017. An innovative leader in drug discovery, he previously worked on the ophthalmology, diabetes, and NASH programs at Regulus Therapeutics, at the MedImmune arm of AstraZeneca, and in the Diabetes Drug Discovery program at Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Suckow received his BS from the University of Delaware and his PhD from University of California, San Diego. He has received numerous awards including a Beckman Fellowship, a NSF graduate research fellowship, and a BIOCOM catalyst award.
Bryan Laffitte, PhD
Chief Scientific OfficerBryan Laffitte, PhD
Dr. Laffitte joined DTx Pharma in 2020, bringing twenty years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience with expertise leading research teams and advancing programs from pre-clinical development through IND filings. Dr. Laffitte was previously Vice President, Biology at Inception Therapeutics where he managed the research activities for Inception and several of its subsidiary companies including Tempest Therapeutics, Lycia Therapeutics, Osprey Therapeutics, and Metis Therapeutics. Dr. Laffitte was previously the Director of Regenerative Medicine, Head of Type 1 Diabetes Program and Co-Leader of the Molecular Targeting Initiative at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation and was named Scientist of the Year and VIVA Award winner for 2016 at Novartis. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Howard Hughes Medical Institute; earned his PhD from University of California, Los Angeles; and his BS from California State University, Long Beach.
Charles Allerson, PhD
Vice President of Chemistry and Drug DevelopmentCharles Allerson, PhD
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Allerson joined DTx Pharma in 2019 bringing extensive experience in oligonucleotide chemistry and therapeutics. Prior to joining DTx Pharma, Dr. Allerson served as Vice President of Chemistry at Stoke Therapeutics, Director of Chemistry at Regulus Therapeutics, and Principal Scientist at Isis Pharmaceuticals. Dr Allerson was a postdoctoral research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, completed his PhD at Harvard University, and earned his BS from Lafayette College.
Peter Condon
Chief Business OfficerPeter Condon
Mr. Condon joins DTx Pharma with more than 20 years of experience in business development, commercial planning, and operations. He has held positions as the Vice President and Head of Business Development at Gossamer Bio, and senior roles in business development and commercial planning at Calico Life Sciences, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and Genentech. Mr.Condon was also responsible for several key corporate transactions across therapeutic areas, including rare diseases, inflammation, and oncology. In addition, he founded an independent consultancy last year where he advised emerging biotech companies on strategy, capital raising, and operations.
Mr. Condon received his BA from Harvard University and his MBA from The Wharton School of Business.
Michael Huang, MD
Chief Medical OfficerMichael Huang, MD
Prior to DTx Pharma, Dr. Huang held key leadership roles at AmMax Bio and Spruce Biosciences. Throughout his career, he has led programs in RNA therapeutics, biologics and small molecules from initial IND through clinical proof-of-concept, late-stage development and beyond. With extensive leadership experience in advancing drug candidates through all phases of clinical development, his contributions have led to marketing authorizations for numerous therapeutics including Potiga®, Zevalin®, Uceris®, Ruconest®, and Austedo®. Dr. Huang has also been recognized for supporting successful financing and business-development activities. He is also the author of a multitude of peer-reviewed journal articles, abstracts, and scientific publications.
Dr. Huang holds a Bachelor of Science in molecular and cell biology from the University of California at Berkeley and received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School.
Our Board of Directors
Dan Becker, MD PhD
Access BiotechnologyDan Becker, MD PhD
Dan Becker is a Partner at Access Biotechnology, the biopharmaceutical investing arm of Access Industries, a privately held US-based industrial group with global strategic investments of $25+ billion. Prior to joining Access, Dan was a Principal at New Leaf Venture Partners, where he played a key role in multiple private and public biopharma investments, and a Principal in the Health Care practice at the Boston Consulting Group, where he led projects across the healthcare sector with an emphasis on biopharma R&D. Dan trained clinically in internal medicine and nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, and was a Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School. He obtained both his MD and PhD (Cellular and Molecular Biology) degrees from the University of Michigan, and received his BS in Physiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jeff Friedman, MD PhD
Managing Partner Friedman Bioventure FundJeff Friedman, MD PhD
Dr. Friedman is an experienced life sciences investor with over 50 previous investments in the sector. He is a Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, receiving his MD/PhD from Stanford and clinical training at Boston Children’s Hospital/DFCI. Prior to his current role, he led the life sciences section of Tech Coast Angels, San Diego, the largest Angel Investment group in the US. As a philanthropist, Dr. Friedman served on the board of CurePSP and continues to manage the PSP Genetics Consortium, a collaborative sequencing effort between CurePSP, NIH, the Tau Consortium and 13 academic investigators around the world. Earlier in his career, Dr. Friedman led a basic hematology research lab for nearly a decade at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego. In addition to DTx Pharma, Dr. Friedman is also on the board of Pet Dx.
John Grundy, PhD
Co-founder, DTx PharmaJohn Grundy, PhD
Dr. Grundy received his PhD from University of Alberta and has more than 20 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry including at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, GlaxoWellcome and Elan Pharmaceuticals. He was VP of DMPK & Clinical Pharmacology at Ionis and over his career, has worked on 6 approved therapeutics, including the oligonucleotide therapeutics Kynamro® and Spinraza®, the biologics Tysabri® and Prialt®, and the small molecules Zonegran® and Contrave®. He has proven that he can successfully manage assets from early clinical development through to POC in man. Dr. Grundy is currently VP of Nonclinical Development and Clinical Pharmacology at Arena Pharmaceuticals.
Kathie Bishop, PhD
Independent Board MemberKathie Bishop, PhD
Dr. Bishop brings more than two decade’s worth of experience in translational research and drug development, with a focus on novel therapeutics for the treatment of neurological and rare diseases. She is currently Sr. Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Rare Disease at Acadia Pharmaceuticals. As an accomplished scientist-turned-executive, Dr. Bishop has previously led research and development as CSO at Locana Bio, Otonomy and Tioga Pharmaceuticals and held leadership roles at Ionis and Celgene.
Matthew Hammond, PhD
Board MemberMatthew Hammond, PhD
Matthew Hammond joined RA Capital in 2014 and is currently a Principal on the Investment Team. Matthew works on both public and private investments and serves as a Director for Cerebral Therapeutics, Kira Pharmaceuticals, and Research Alliance Corp I. Matthew holds a BS in Environmental Health Science from the University of Georgia and both a PhD in Biomedical Science and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Connecticut. His graduate research investigated innate immune responses after intracerebral hemorrhage.
Tim Scott
CEO, TEGA TherapeuticsTim Scott
Mr. Scott is co-founder and CEO of TEGA Therapeutics. He previously was President of Pharmatek Labs, a CDMO sold to Catalent in 2016. Mr. Scott also serves on the Board of Avelas Bioiosciences, BIOCOM and CONNECT, a non-profit helping to create innovation in San Diego. At UC San Diego, he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Division of Biological Sciences. Mr. Scott also serves on the board of the San Diego Blood Bank, and as a trustee for the La Jolla Playhouse. Mr. Scott earned his B.A. in Biochemistry, and his J.D. from UCSD and is a member of the California Bar.
Arthur Suckow, PhD
CEO, DTx PharmaArthur Suckow, PhD
Dr. Suckow received his BS from the University of Delaware and his PhD from University of California, San Diego. He has worked for Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Regulus Therapeutics. Dr. Suckow’s extensive experience in fatty acid pharmacology includes advancing small molecules targeting fatty acids and fatty-acid conjugated peptides into early clinical development. Dr. Suckow has received numerous awards including a Beckman Fellowship, NSF graduate research fellowship, a BIOCOM catalyst award and many others.
Investors
