Kadmon gets worldwide license to IP recently acquired by Nano Terra from Surface Logix.

Kadmon Pharmaceuticals and Nano Terra are establishing a joint venture (JV), NT Life Sciences, to develop three of Nano Terra’s clinical-stage drug candidates, SLx-2119, SLx-4009, and SLx-2101, and its Pharmacomer™ drug discovery platform. Under terms of the deal Kadmon has negotiated a worldwide, exclusive license to the three drugs along with rights to the discovery platform.

SLx-2119, SLx-4090, and SLx-2101 and the Pharmacomer platform were originally developed by Surface Logix, which Nano Terra recently acquired. The three compounds are in early- to mid-stage development for a range of diseases.

SLx-2119 targets the Rho-associated coiled-coiled kinase 2 (ROCK2) pathway. SLx-4090 targets the MTP (enterocytic microsomal triglyceride transfer protein) pathway, and SLx-2101 targets PDE5 (phosphodiesterase 5).

Nano Terra and Kadmon claim preclinical studies suggest SLX-2119 may have therapeutic applications in a broad spectrum of diseases including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and spinal cord injury. As for SLx-2101, Surface Logix previously completed four Phase IIa studies in hypertension, Raynaud’s disease, and erectile dysfunction.

SLx-4090 has been designed to treat metabolic and cardiovascular diseases without the associated toxicity issues inherent in systemic MTP inhibition, the firm adds. Orally administered SLx-4090 targets MTP only in enterocytes of the small intestine, blocking a key step in the adsorption of dietary triglycerides and cholesterol into the lymphatic circulation, Surface Logix claims. Moreover, the firm adds, because SLx-4090 does not enter the systemic circulation it avoids mechanistic toxicities that are associated with systemic MTP inhibition, such as fatty liver.

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