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Cancer research

Our Business

We have identified small molecule binders of MYC that selectively inhibit MYC in tumor cell lines and cancer models. Candidate drugs are now being developed by MyCural Therapeutics with the aim to bring forward a new cancer therapy for patients with MYC-driven cancers and aggressive high-risk tumors.

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Targeting the MYC oncoprotein at MyCural Therapeutics

We have identified small molecule binders of MYC that selectively inhibit MYC in tumor cell lines and cancer models. Candidate drugs are now being developed by MyCural Therapeutics with the aim to bring forward a new cancer therapy for patients with MYC-driven cancers and
aggressive high-risk tumors.

Vision

Our vision is a new cancer therapy for patients with aggressive, resistant, metastasized high-risk tumors.

We want to give patients with incurable cancer an option in the future.

 

Mission

Our mission is to develop potential candidate drugs targeting the MYC oncoprotein.

Small molecules targeting MYC were identified by cancer researchers at Karolinska Institutet and are now being developed by MyCural Therapeutics.

Targeting the MYC oncoprotein

MYC – the main driver in cancer

More than 50% of all cancers are driven by MYC, correlating with aggressive disease, metastases and resistance to therapy.

MYC – a key target in cancer

Deregulated MYC expression in tumor cells is often a poor prognostic marker. Tumor cells usually become addicted to MYC and shut down of MYC by genetic means often lead to complete tumor regression with few side effects in mouse tumor models. This makes MYC a desirable drug target in cancer.

Why are there no drugs targeting MYC in the clinic?

There are no drugs or therapies specifically targeting MYC in clinical practice today. One reason for this is that MYC has been described as ”undruggable” because of it’s disordered structure, and is therefore not behaving like a conventional drug target. It doesn’t have any enzymatic activity or binding pockets, but rather functions by binding to other proteins. For these reasons it is difficult to design drugs that bind MYC.

Our strategy to inhibit MYC

MYC is dependent on interactions with other proteins to function as an oncoprotein. One of MYC’s most important partners is MAX. We have identified and validated small molecule inhibitors of the interaction between MYC and MAX, so called MYCMIs, that potently and specifically kill MYC-driven tumor cells but spares normal cells and prolongs survival of mice in mouse tumor models.
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Message from the CEO

“We have paved the way by creating innovative methods!"

Developing therapy for the MYC protein poses a unique challenge. Despite the desire and importance, no one has succeeded with ani-myc therapy before, primarily due to the completely disordered structure of MYC, challenging conventional drug design. We have paved the way by creating innovative methods to identify inhibitors of MYC and our vision is to become world leaders in this field.

– Dr. Alina Castell, CEO of MyCural Therapeutics AB.

Investors and Funding

Media and Acknowledgements