Product Pipeline

Selexys Pharmaceuticals technology platform is very mature and ready for commercialization. The Company Founders completed discovery supported by over $25 million in grants and awards over the past 12 years from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at NIH. The result is a three pronged pipeline of drug candidates that target P-selectin and impact major areas of inflammatory and thrombotic diseases. Each has unique properties to meet the needs of these major medical indications.

1. Monoclonal Antibodies to human P-selectin. Selexys has developed several high affinity mouse monoclonal antibodies to human P-selectin. Our lead antibody blocks P-selectin and prevents and reverses white blood cell adhesion in vivo. The Company is developing the humanized form of this antibody to treat Sickle Cell Disease and other larger medical indications. With a long half-life, our antibody has the ideal properties for treating chronic forms of inflammatory disease. Selexys has exclusive rights to a key blocking patent covering the use of antibodies to P-selectin for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
2. Glysopep. Glysopep is a small molecule inhibitor of P-selectin. Selexys has developed a proprietary chemical and enzymatic method for producing this patented glycosulfopeptide which mimics the natural ligand for P-selectin found on white blood cells. This small molecule has been shown to block and reverse white blood cell adhesion in vitro and in vivo. Selexys is developing Glysopep as a treatment with a modifiable half-life for acute inflammatory disorders such as deep vein thrombosis and restenosis after CABG and stent placement. The Company has three issued patents for Glysopep, composition of matter and pending applications for its use as a treatment for inflammation.
3. Soluble P-selectin. Soluble P-selectin has pro-coagulant properties that have application in thrombotic disorders that lead to excessive bleeding in surgical settings and for treatment of hemophilia. The company has composition and use patents for soluble P-selectin. This technology is available for licensing or co-development opportunities.
4. Glycotechnology. Selexys technology is based on protein-carbohydrate interactions. Our target, P-selectin, and its counter-receptor were discovered using traditional biochemistry and molecular biology methods over 12 years of basic research. Our founding scientists are experts in Glycobiology and have been at the forefront of developing new technologies for screening protein-carbohydrate interactions to identify new targets. Our research and development will leverage this expertise to expand our intellectual property estate and develop follow-on candidates for our product pipeline.

How Selexys Drugs Block P-selectin

Fig. 1 - P-selectin is an important therapeutic target.

P-selectin, the therapeutic target for Selexys' drug candidates, is well documented and validated in over 2,000+ articles in the scientific literature (see P-selectin Function below). As shown in Fig. 1, P-selectin is present within the cells forming the inner lining of blood vessels (endothelial cells). It is also present within circulating blood platelets, which participate in both blood clotting and inflammation.

Fig. 2 - Inflammation mobilizes P-selectin

When the endothelial cells lining the vessel become activated in disease, P-selectin is moved from the inside to the cell surface as shown in Fig. 2. The movement of P-selectin to the cell surface makes it accessible to its receptor, a glycoprotein called PSGL-1 that is located on the surface of circulating white blood cells. As the white blood cells flow past the P-selectin, their PSGL-1 molecules bind to P-selectin molecules on the endothelial cells. This causes the white blood cells to stick to the blood vessel surface. In some diseases platelets are also activated and P-selectin is moved to the platelet surface where white blood cells can also bind. Thus, white blood cells can adhere to both platelets and endothelial cells on blood vessel surfaces. Importantly, this binding is very specific to the site of inflammation. This is the FIRST cellular event in the inflammatory cascade and sets into motion all other inflammatory processes that can destroy tissues and organs. These downstream events are complex and involve numerous parallel signaling processes that are difficult to modulate with a single drug. This allows Selexys to precisely target the initial cellular event in inflammation and diminish or prevent downstream signaling, a significant competitive advantage for Selexys therapeutics.

Fig. 3 - Selexys' Therapeutics Block Inflammation

Blocking P-selectin-mediated adhesion of white blood cells is intended to prevent or reduce tissue injury in inflammatory diseases. In Fig. 3, when a Selexys therapeutic is injected intravenously it quickly binds to P-selectin. This prevents the white blood cells from attaching to blood vessel surfaces and causing damage to otherwise healthy tissue. Inflammation is prevented or reduced. Selexys has antibodies to P-selectin and Glysopep under development as therapeutics that block P-selectin.