Proacta

About:

Proacta is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing hypoxia-activated “prodrugs” for the treatment of cancer.

Website: http://www.proacta.com

Top Investors: Roche, Alta Partners, Delphi Ventures, No 8 Ventures, GBS Ventures

Description:

Proacta Inc. is a private, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. They are focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of cancer with the development of hypoxia-activated prodrugs that target cancer cells. Proacta was founded on intellectual property generated in New Zealand at the University of Auckland and in the United States at Stanford University. Proacta's patent family covers a series of hypoxia-activated prodrugs designed to treat cancer. Expansion of this portfolio is supported by ongoing research at The University of Auckland. PR610 is the lead compound from their pipeline of pro-drugs based on hypoxia-activated tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. These pro-drugs selectively release active tyrosine-kinase inhibitors within the low-oxygen (hypoxic) environment found in many solid tumors. By shifting the release of active drug away from normal tissues and into cancer tissues, these drugs are predicted to be more effective and less toxic than currently available therapies. To date, Proacta has raised $43 million in two private financings. Investors include Alta Partners, Clarus Ventures, Delphi Ventures, Endeavour Capital (New Zealand), GBS Venture Partners (Australia), Genentech, No 8 Ventures (New Zealand) and Roche.