Tarveda Therapeutics, Inc. is discovering and developing a new class of potent and selective miniature drug conjugates (Pentarins®) for the treatment of patients with a wide range of solid tumors. PEN-221 is a miniature drug conjugate in clinical evaluation for the treatment of patients with somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expressing neuroendocrine, small cell lung and other solid tumors. PEN-221 is highly selective for SSTR2 and is designed to rapidly penetrate deep into solid tumors where it accumulates and releases its potent DM1 payload over time within the tumor cells. Tarveda is also advancing its HSP90 binding drug conjugate platform with lead drug candidate PEN-866, which selectively binds in tumors to the activated form of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) and releases its potent topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload, SN38. The safety and efficacy of PEN-866 in patients with cancer is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial. Tarveda’s strategy includes developing its own proprietary miniature drug conjugates as well as applying its miniature drug conjugate platform to enhance the effectiveness of the targeting moieties and novel payloads of pharmaceutical collaborators.
