APIM Therapeutics AS is a venture-capital financed biotech spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU, Trondheim).
Based on an original discovery by Prof. Marit Otterlei and co-inventors, the company targets a novel therapeutic intervention point shown to be critical in the regulation of cellular responses to stress and in tumor evasion from therapy.
Briefly, APIM Therapeutics is using a series of proprietary Protein Protein Interaction (PPI) blocking peptides targeting complexes formed between PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) and proteins bearing a novel PCNA-interacting Peptide Motif called APIM (AlkB homolog 2 PCNA Interacting Motif). A series of preclinical and other experiments have revealed the functional importance of PCNA/APIM-protein interactions in the regulation of cancer cell growth and apoptosis e.g. during DNA Damage Response (DDR) induced by anti-cancer treatment. Furthermore, it was shown that cell penetrating peptides containing the APIM-motif abrogate PCNA-APIM protein interactions and are capable of potentiating the action of several classes of anti-cancer drugs across multiple indications.
APIM’s lead therapeutic candidate ATX-101, is a first-in class compound targeting this intervention point that has recently reached the clinical stage. In preclinical experiments, ATX-101 has shown single agent activity in blood cancer and combinatorial activity with more than 25 different anti-cancer drugs in different tumor indications. Developed as a new therapeutic option for myeloma and bladder cancer, ATX-101 is currently being tested in a phase I study in advanced cancer patients. The study is being conducted by APIM’s fully owned subsidiary Therapim Pty Ltd.
For more information on our technology, please see Intervention Point, ATX-101 and Publications. An 1-page flyer providing key company & technology highlights is also available here.