Our Approach
Applications
Technology Applications and Product Candidates
The diversity of potential targets and therapeutic modulators that will emerge from the VLST discovery platform provides the potential to treat a number of possible clinical indications. These include different autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis, and conditions known to have an immune or inflammatory component to their etiology, such as the complications of acute viral infections, transplant rejection and asthma.
The VLST process for product development includes: the application of bioinformatics and proteomics to identify virulence factors; the determination of cellular targets; the understanding of the biological consequences of the virulence factor and cellular target interaction; testing in animal models; and advancement into the clinic. In selecting product candidates to advance into further development, VLST will consider several critical determinants including: scientific understanding of the target, feasibility of creating and testing biologic drug conjugates, clinical and commercial opportunity and intellectual property. By systematically, objectively and thoroughly assessing the potential programs, VLST is able to advance the most promising programs in the most effective manner.
Growing Number of Targets from Discovery Platform
Over 450 putative virulence genes have been identified and one or more binding partners identified for over 70 virulence genes. Four broad classes of targets have been identified:
- Novel targets with novel immunological activity, e.g., hypothetical proteins
- Known targets with novel immunological activity
- Known immunologic targets with novel mechanism to modulate activity, e.g., CD47
- Known targets for approved or investigational drugs, e.g., TNF, CD80, CD86, PD-L1, IL-1ß, CD70, CD30 and CD200.
The identification of known targets for approved or investigational drugs strongly suggests that the platform is functioning as expected. The other target categories provide the starting point for on-going and future drug development by VLST and its partners.