The gastro-intestinal barrier is comprised of both physical and chemical barriers that separate host tissues from the intestinal lumen. Maintaining a strong physical barrier between luminal contents such as microbes, food and bacterial borne antigens, is important in maintaining immune homeostasis.

The intestinal physical barrier consists of a monolayer of epithelial cells interconnected by tight junction protein complexes. Damage to tight junction complexes results in the translocation of microbes and microbial antigens (referred to as Microbe Associated Molecular Patterns (MAMPs)) into the systemic circulation, leading to hyperinflammation and organ specific immune dysfunction.

Maintaining a healthy gut barrier is pivotal to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and gut immune homeostasis. 

Gut barrier dysfunction leads to leakage of intestinal luminal contents into system circulation, which results in high inflammation not only in the gastrointestinal tract but in several other organs in the body. 

The current therapies for leaky gut predominately target inflammation and do not directly enhance the gut barrier.

Artus is developing new molecular entities (NME) inspired by beneficial naturally occurring host or microbial metabolites. Our oral small molecule therapies enhance barrier integrity of both epithelial and endothelial cells. 

These NMEs have the potential to be treatments for several gastrointestinal, neurological and metabolic disorders.

Unlike existing treatments, our developmental lead candidates, Artx-405, Artx-413 and Artx-425 enhance epithelial and endothelial barrier integrity , facilitating mucosal healing without compromising immunity.

Fred Ausubel, PhD  

Co-founder, President & Interim-CSO

Fred is a molecular biologist specialized in the study of host-microbe interactions. Fred is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and Thomas Hunt Morgan Medalist for his lifetime achievements in the field of Genetics. Fred is emeritus Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.

Sakthimala Jagadeesan, PhD  

Co-founder and CEO

Sakthi is a microbiologist, specialized in host-pathogen interactions and in high-throughput screening technology, who trained at the Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School. Sakthi is serving as founding Chief Executive Officer of Artus Therapeutics.

Praveen Kumar Vemula  

Associate Professor, Institute for Steam Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

Praveen is a serial entrepreneur, chemist, nanotechnologist and Associate Professor at Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Bangalore with training from Harvard and MIT. Praveen has 20+ years of experience in drug discovery and delivery and hold several patents.

Venkatakrishna Rao Jala  

Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville

Krishna is an immunologist is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Louisville. Krishna has 20+ years of experience in molecular and cellular biology, immunology, host microbiota interactions, and barrier dysfunction diseases.

Ashwin Ananthakrishnan, MBBS, MPH  

Director of the MGH Crohn’s and Colitis Clinic and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School

Dr. Ananthakrishnan is the Director of the MGH Crohn’s and Colitis Clinic and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ananthakrishnan is a key opinion leader in the treatment of IBD and advises Artus on the development of IBD therapeutics from a clinical perspective.

Nicholas Terrett, PhD  

Former Director and Head of Chemical Sciences, 
Pfizer

Dr. Terrett has worked in drug discovery for over 35 years in both large pharmaceutical (GSK, Pfizer, Merck) and small biotech companies (Ensemble Therapeutics) in the UK, US, and Switzerland. He is a co-inventor of many important therapeutics including ViagraTM. He currently is a full-time consultant (Nicholas Terrett Consulting, LLC).