Pharma, Startups

Harvard spinout XTuit gets $4M to target the tumor microenvironment

Polaris Partners-backed XTuit Pharmaceuticals, a cancer-centric biotech that targets therapeutics in the tumor microenvironment, just raised […]

Polaris Partners-backed XTuit Pharmaceuticals, a cancer-centric biotech that targets therapeutics in the tumor microenvironment, just raised $4 million from three investors – and, according to a regulatory filing, is planning to bring in $6 more.

The company was founded in 2011 by Harvard professor Rakesh Jain, MIT chemical engineering professor Bob Langer and Polaris partner Alan Crane. While there is little publicly disclosed about XTuit itself, Jain’s research is highly indicative of the direction the startup’s headed.

His work at Harvard centers around tumor vasculature, growth and response to therapy – and how to manipulate the tumor microenvironment so it can be used in prevention, diagnostics and therapeutics. He says:

Our work has revealed that the abnormal vasculature in solid tumors often thwarts the effectiveness of both conventional and novel therapies. Our laboratory is known for a new hypothesis that antiangiogenic therapy can “normalize” the abnormal tumor vasculature and improve both the delivery and efficacy of therapeutics. We have validated this concept in mice and patients receiving antiangiogenic therapy and in the process, discovered potential biomarkers of tumor escape from these therapies. We have also discovered the molecular mechanisms of vascular normalization. Now we are exploring novel strategies to expand the window of normalization and seeking potential biomarkers for tailoring therapies to individuals.

We have translated this insight into the vascular biology of tumors to engineer long-lasting blood vessels using for regenerative medicine. Now we are exploring the use of iPS cells in engineering blood vessels. Other projects in the lab include manipulation of the extracellular matrix of tumors to improve the delivery of conventional and nano-medicine; lymphatic function and lymphangiogenesis; dissection of biology with hematologic and lymphatic metastasis; drug screening for treatment of metastasis; and translation of these findings to the clinic.

Things seem to be ramping up this year for the Cambridge-based startup: It raised $1.5 million in seed funding earlier this year, and joined JLabs’ Kendall Square incubator. It’s also brought on board life sci vet Peter Blume Jensen as its chief scientific officer.

 

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