Simply put, the mission of Perseid Therapeutics is to discover and develop protein drugs that improve human health. Perseid seeks to create products that deliver significant patient benefit both by improving upon known mechanisms and by discovering novel therapeutic modalities. Our initial focus has been on patients suffering from disorders treatable by immune suppressive therapy. We also discover and develop novel protein pharmaceuticals using the proprietary MolecularBreeding^TM directed molecular evolution platform.

MolecularBreeding^TM Directed Molecular Evolution Platform

Perseid Therapeutics uses a number of proprietary technologies that enable rapid identification of protein therapeutic drug candidates with optimal biophysical properties. Our integrated technologies combine advances in molecular biology, immunology and protein evolution to generate novel immunomodulatory protein therapeutics.

Our discovery strategies include the use of a proprietary directed molecular evolution platform which utilizes a number of proprietary DNA shuffling formats. The MolecularBreeding^TM directed molecular evolution platform harnesses the natural power of evolution in vitro to generate proteins having desired properties, such as enhanced target binding affinity and selectivity. Such properties may provide clinical benefit in terms of improved efficacy, safety, and/or patient convenience.

Maxy-4

The MAXY-4 program has created next-generation CTLA4-Ig molecules for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, transplant rejection and other diseases. By binding to human B7 (CD80/CD86) ligands with high avidity, CTLA4-Ig fusion proteins inhibit B7-mediated co-stimulation of T cells via the CD28 receptor, thereby decreasing activation of T cells and thus decreasing immune system activation. Perseid staff used the MolecularBreeding^TM directed molecular evolution platform to generate novel CTLA4-Ig proteins with significantly higher binding affinity and altered selectivity to human B7 ligands.

Maxy-4 and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The worldwide market for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a key opportunity for MAXY-4, has grown to over $10 billion. The increasing global incidence of severe RA and the emergence of new therapies with improved clinical benefit are predicted to sustain market expansion in this disease area.

A significant segment of the RA population continues to be refractory to current biological DMARDs, and clinical benefit (as measured by ACR50 score) is estimated at less than 50% at six months post therapy. Hence, significant opportunity remains available for the introduction of new biologic therapies, such as MAXY-4, that aim to provide a differentiated benefit over existing therapies.

Maxy-4 and Transplant Rejection

The worldwide market opportunity for solid organ transplant rejection was over $3 billion in 2007. Although standard of care agents (tacrolimus, MMF, steroids) provide high short term survival rates, longer-term survival rates (>5 years) remain poor. Maxy-4 compounds aim to address this significant unmet need by providing increased safety and efficacy.

Other Programs

Perseid has multiple pre-clinical discovery programs that aim to deliver significant patient benefit by either improving upon known protein therapies or providing new therapeutic modalities. Perseid uses its proprietary MolecularBreeding^TM directed molecular evolution platform and other technologies, such as bi-functional proteins, to discover the most appropriate drug format to address a particular unmet need.

To learn more about how Perseid uses its proprietary technologies to discover, research and develop novel protein pharmaceutical products, please visit the Perseid Therapeutics Web site