CANTEX PHARMACEUTICALS

Cantex Pharmaceuticals develops novel, oral treatments primarily focused on cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions. The company's main product candidate is azeliragon, an orally administered once-daily capsule that inhibits interactions of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) with certain ligands, including HMGB1 and S100 proteins in the tumor microenvironment. The drug has demonstrated high safety tolerability in clinical trials involving more than 2,000 individuals dosed for periods up to 18 months. Cantex is conducting multiple Phase II clinical trials investigating azeliragon for various oncology indications including glioblastoma, brain metastasis, pancreatic cancer, and breast cancer. The company is also running a Phase 3 trial evaluating azeliragon in hospitalized patients with pneumonia to prevent acute kidney injury. In December 2024, azeliragon received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of brain metastasis from breast cancer, adding to its previous orphan designations for pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma received in mid-2024 and early 2023 respectively. The orphan designations provide seven years of marketing exclusivity from the time of product launch for each indication. Azeliragon was originally developed for Alzheimer's disease by vTv Therapeutics, from whom Cantex licensed worldwide rights in June 2021.

Key customers and partnerships

Cantex has established research partnerships with several institutions. In September 2023, the company partnered with Lenox Hill Hospital's Department of Neurological Surgery to initiate a Phase 2 study assessing azeliragon's safety and effectiveness in combination with radiation therapy for newly diagnosed unmethylated glioblastoma. The company also collaborated with Georgetown University, obtaining an exclusive worldwide license for intellectual property related to azeliragon's potential use in treating cancer treatment-related cognitive decline. Additionally, Cantex licensed intellectual property from Harvard University's Wyss Institute to develop azeliragon for inflammatory lung diseases including Covid-19, following successful studies using the Institute's Human Lung Alveolus Chip technology.