Treadwell has launched with seed funding from Tio Bioventures to commercialise small molecule cancer drugs based on University Health Network research.
Treadwell Therapeutics, a US-based small molecule cancer therapy developer exploiting inventions from Canada-based research hospital University Health Network, launched on Tuesday with a $27m seed round from life sciences venture building firm Tio Bioventures.
Spun out of Tio’s drug discovery incubator, Tio Discovery, Treadwell is progressing small molecules that inhibit enzyme pathways to treat both solid and haematological forms of cancer.
The company extends scientific studies from University Health Network’s Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research.
Treadwell currently has two phase 2 clinical-stage assets: an inhibitor of the PLK kinase enzyme codenamed CFI-40 0945, and an inhibitor of the TTK pathway dubbed CFI-402257.
Both assets demonstrated safety and effectiveness potential during earlier clinical testing, and Treadwell expects to bring a third candidate into the clinic over the coming months to target the immunomodulatory HPK pathway.
Tak Mak and Rachael Humphrey, managing partner and head of research respectively at Tio Discovery, have both joined the new company’s board of directors.