Sealing the broken barrier
Artus Therapeutics is developing first-in-class oral therapeutics for inflammatory and metabolic diseases by targeting gut barrier dysfunction
About Us
A pre-clinical stage biotech company
Artus Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotech company focused on discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and metabolic diseases by targeting gut barrier dysfunction. Barrier dysfunction is a common baseline pathology observed in several inflammatory, autoimmune, and neuronal disorders. The company’s unique drug design and development platform have the potential to transform the treatment paradigm for barrier dysfunction diseases. Based in Boston, MA, Artus was founded by Harvard and MIT trained scientists and entrepreneurs with strong expertise in gastrointestinal disorders and drug design and development.
Science
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Diseases
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.
Unmet Need in Barrier Dysfunction Diseases
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 lumenal 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.
Unmet Need in Barrier Dysfunction Diseases
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 lumenal 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.
ArtxTM platform and lead Program
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 layers. These NMEs have the potential to be treatments for several gastrointestinal, neurological
In contrast to current therapies, our developmental lead candidates, ARTX-2 and ARTX-86, enhance epithelial and endothelial barrier integrity in addition to reducing inflammation without compromising immunity.
Management Team
Co-founder and President
Fred is a molecular biologist specialized in the study of host-microbe interactions. Fred is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a Thomas Hunt Morgan Medalist for his lifetime achievements in the field of Genetics. Fred is emeritus Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Co-founder and Interim 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.
Academic Co-founders
Praveen Kumar Vemula, PhD
Associate Professor, Institute for Stem
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, PhD
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.
Scientific and Medical Advisors
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 Inc.
Dr. Terrett has worked in drug discovery for over 35 ayears 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).
Contact
Address:
Harvard Pagliuca Life Lab
127 Western Ave., Allston, MA 02134
Email: contact@artustx.com
