Vitarka Therapeutics aims to combine platform technology with two targets in PD-1 resistant tumours. 

First-in-class monotherapy would successfully address this major, unmet medical need. Combination therapy against both targets would be a true game-changer for late-stage patients with lung, colon, breast, and other cancers.

What sets us apart is our unique synthesis of assets: 

• Combination of technology and targets gives us a broad patentability landscape for mono- and combination therapy
• Experienced leadership team with proven excellence in big pharma drug development 
• Strong strategic network alliance of collaborators, experts, partners, associates and counsellors
• Disruptive application of validated platform technology
• Large unmet need, first-to-market opportunity: PD-1 resistant tumours, currently untreated population
  

The Problem

Cancer still kills >8 million patients globally, 164,000 in UK per year, although therapies have moved from “one-size-fits-all” therapeutics to personalized treatment approach. Targeted therapies (anti-VEGF) and personalized mechanisms like anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1, anti-CTLA4 therapeutics do not always consider tumour-heterogeneity, mutational burden and target-expression. Therefore, they have barely made a dent in those numbers.

Their shortcomings: the group of eligible patients is very small, and only 10-15% of those who are eligible respond with progression-free or overall survival. Also, these therapies are often accompanied by high adverse events and high percentage of metastatic recurrence.

As existing treatments stretch over a long period of time, access-to-care is of essence. This often leaves behind most vulnerable patients with worst prognoses: those from diverse or poor socio-economic backgrounds, and those whose cancers advanced due to Covid-19.

In most deprived populations death rates are up +166% for lung cancer, +6% for breast cancer and +28% for colorectal cancer. Due to Covid-19, a UKRI-funded study reports an estimated increase in death toll of +5% for lung cancer, +8.5% for breast cancer and +16% for colorectal cancer.

Our Solution

We work on a game-changing approach to treat cancer: developing novel first-in-class therapeutics for late-stage cancers. And we found a way to significantly increase the number of eligible patients by addressing two novel targets.

Success against either one of the targets would be a breakthrough. Their combination with significantly lower adverse effects would be a true game-changer for a large, unserved population.