TetraLogic’s research programs focus on discovering drugs that regulate apoptosis. The company’s initial therapeutic focus is to discover and develop drugs that treat cancer. Today, TetraLogic’s discovery efforts are focused on advancing its lead IAP antagonist drug candidates into human clinical trials. The company has initiated early stage pilot programs on other cancer-related targets.

IAP Antagonist Program – Targeted Cancer Therapy
Apoptosis is a highly regulated cellular process found in all multi-cellular organisms. Its normal role is to remove abnormal cells enabling them to be replaced by normal, fully functional cells. Disease results when regulation of the apoptosis process breaks down. For example, when the apoptosis pathway is blocked, cells do not die as directed. The end result is uncontrolled increase in cell numbers as seen in tumor formation and progression.

Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins function in a regulatory role to prevent normal cells from undergoing apoptosis. They block an early step in death receptor ligand signaling and at the very last step in the apoptosis pathway. When the apoptosis pathway is activated due to cell stress, cells release another protein called Smac. Smac relieves IAP inhibition resulting in cell death.  In tumor cells where IAP levels can be much higher than normal, released Smac is not sufficient to relieve IAP inhibition. In cancer cells, IAP continues to block apoptosis allowing disease progression or recurrence.

The goal of TetraLogic’s IAP antagonist program is to develop small molecule drugs that mimic the activity of Smac. The drugs will be used to overcome the high IAP levels in tumors resulting cell death. IAP antagonist drugs will be potentially useful to treat many types of cancer alone and in combination with other therapies. TetraLogic’s IAP antagonist drugs that have been shown to kill cancer cells are in the pre-clinical development phase. The company plans to aggressively advance its drug candidates to human clinical trials.