Traws Pharma is at the forefront of developing innovative therapeutic solutions for respiratory viral diseases and cancer, utilizing a combination of advanced technologies. The company employs small molecule chemistry alongside artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance the drug discovery and development process. This integration allows Traws Pharma to design targeted antiviral candidates that can effectively address the challenges posed by viral resistance to existing treatments. Their focus on rational drug design aims to create new medications that can reach affected tissues, thereby expanding treatment options for a wider patient population.

In addition to their antiviral efforts, Traws Pharma is also dedicated to developing therapies for cancer, particularly through the use of investigational compounds like narazaciclib and rigosertib. These compounds are currently undergoing various phases of clinical trials to assess their safety and efficacy in treating advanced solid tumors and other malignancies. The company's commitment to addressing unmet medical needs is evident in their focus on vulnerable populations and the development of long-acting treatments that can prevent initial infections, showcasing their comprehensive approach to tackling significant health threats.

United States

Traws Pharma is a clinical stage company aiming to address unmet medical needs in respiratory viral diseases and cancer. We leverage broad and deep expertise in small molecule chemistry, artificial intelligence and machine learning, rational drug design & streamlined development to deliver innovative medicines. We target critical threats to human health, aiming to overcome problems caused by acquired resistance to current medications, with an additional focus on vulnerable populations.

Cancer

Infectious Diseases

Traws Pharma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Solid tumor/s

Rigosertib is a small molecule that inhibits multiple cellular signaling pathways driving cancer cell growth while having little effect on normal cells (Gumireddy 2005, Reddy 2011, Atanasova 2020). In contrast to many kinase inhibitors, rigosertib does not interact at the ATP binding site, but acts via allosteric inhibition. Rigosertib interferes with the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK as well as the PI3K/AKT pathways through multiple mechanisms. Rigosertib has been shown to mediate disruption of RAS/RAF dimerization (Athuluri-Divakar 2016, Liu 2020) repression of PI3K/AKT activity (Chapman 2012, Xu 2014, Hyoda 2015, Prasad 2016), induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway through activation of the Jun Kinase (JNK) enzyme (Chapman 2012, Ritt 2016, Gunther 2020), and inhibition PLK-1 activity (Gumireddy 2005, Athuluri-Divakar 2016, Atanasova 2020). Interference of multiple growth and survival pathways, especially activated RAS, resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, provides a unique opportunity to target multiple cancer types without generating resistant clones.
<a href="https://www.onconova.com/pipeline/#tab-id-3">source</a>

Rigosertib

Melanoma

Skin cancer

Rigosertib is a small molecule that inhibits multiple cellular signaling pathways driving cancer cell growth while having little effect on normal cells (Gumireddy 2005, Reddy 2011, Atanasova 2020). In contrast to many kinase inhibitors, rigosertib does not interact at the ATP binding site, but acts via allosteric inhibition. Rigosertib interferes with the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK as well as the PI3K/AKT pathways through multiple mechanisms. Rigosertib has been shown to mediate disruption of RAS/RAF dimerization (Athuluri-Divakar 2016, Liu 2020) repression of PI3K/AKT activity (Chapman 2012, Xu 2014, Hyoda 2015, Prasad 2016), induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway through activation of the Jun Kinase (JNK) enzyme (Chapman 2012, Ritt 2016, Gunther 2020), and inhibition PLK-1 activity (Gumireddy 2005, Athuluri-Divakar 2016, Atanasova 2020). Interference of multiple growth and survival pathways, especially activated RAS, resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, provides a unique opportunity to target multiple cancer types without generating resistant clones.

Rigosertib + Pembrolizumab

COVID-19

Travatrelvir (TRX01), an orally-available protease inhibitor, in development for treatment of COVID19

Ratutrelvir (TRX01)

Influenza

Viral infection

TRX100 (tivoxavir marboxil): a cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor for influenza

TRX100 (tivoxavir marboxil)

Breast cancer

ER+/HER2- breast cancer

Metastatic breast cancer

Onconova’s lead pipeline product is the novel small molecule ON 123300, a proprietary, first-in-class multi-kinase inhibitor targeting tumor-driving kinases including CDK4/6 and AMPK-related protein kinase (ARK5, also called NUAK1). Similar to other CDK4/6 inhibitors, ON 123300 induces cell cycle arrest through inhibition of the cyclinD1-CDK4/6 phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (RB). Cancer cells which are defective in this pathway are resistant to specific CDK4/6 inhibitors leading to clinical failures. ON 123300 also inhibits the kinase activity of ARK5, a key enzyme controlling cellular energy homeostasis, resulting in the collapse of oncogene-altered (MYC) energy metabolism leading to cell death. ON 123300 is reported to simultaneously inhibit both cell cycle and cellular energy metabolism through CDK4/6 and ARK5, respectively, and in vitro has been shown to be cytotoxic to cancer cells (killing the cancer cells) rather than just cytostatic (inhibiting the growth of cancer cells). Mono therapy with ON 123300 has been shown to be efficacious in multiple tumor models including breast, colo-rectal, mantle cell lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. With its differentiated mechanism of action, ON 123300 may present an innovative approach for treating solid tumors and hematologic malignancies that are refractory to or have become resistant to other CDK4/6 inhibitors.

Traws Pharma

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