Thetis Announces $2.4 Million SBIR Grant from the NIH to Develop Small Molecule BLT1 Agonist to Treat Pancreatic Cancer
ESSEX, CT – (June 2, 2023) – Thetis Pharmaceuticals LLC (“Thetis”), a biopharmaceutical company developing a first-in-class, oral small molecule Resolvin E1-based drug to treat cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases, announced today the receipt of a Fast-Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The total SBIR award provides up to $2.4 million to support development of Thetis’ Resolvin-E1 based drug (TP-317) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer..
Gary Mathias, Chief Executive Officer of Thetis, commented, “The NCI grant will support our TP-317 program targeting pancreatic cancer, which is a highly lethal disease with a 5-year survival rate between 5% and 10%. Existing chemotherapy regimens are only modestly effective and have significant side effects and safety issues and immunotherapies have not been effective. Emerging data suggest that pancreatic cancer induces an “immune cold” tumor microenvironment that contributes to disease progression, metastasis, and resistance that can be addressed by the unique mechanism of action of TP-317.”
About Thetis Pharmaceuticals
Thetis is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Thetis’ proprietary HEALER™ technology enables the pharmaceutical development of Resolvins, overcoming the stability, manufacturing, and formulation hurdles that have limited their commercial development. Thetis is supported by venture capital investors, NIH, and leading private philanthropies, including the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and the Kenneth Rainin Foundation.
Disclaimer
TP-317 is an investigational drug product that has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The SBIR Award (R44CA278026) is supported by the National Institute of Cancer of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Statements regarding TP-317 and the SBIR Award are solely the responsibility of Thetis Pharmaceuticals LLC and do not represent the official views of the NIH.
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Tracy Lessor
TLOW Communications, LLC
617-519-9827
tracy@tlowcommunications.com