Companies To Watch

Osivax is developing universal vaccines for influenza, coronaviruses, and other infectious diseases such as malaria and human papillomavirus (HPV). Preclinical studies also have started on a coronavirus vaccine, which would include Covid-19.

“In a sense, the Covid association was a golden opportunity for our drug,” says Rachel Leheny, CEO of CalciMedica, a pharma focused on anti-inflammatories for pancreatitis that has now shifted to treatments for Covid-19 pneumonia.

Cidara Therapeutics is training its novel treatment and preventative for flu and other viral infections on Covid-19.

Equillium is keeping a close eye on the COVID-19 challenge, but sticking to acute GVHD, uncontrolled asthma, and lupus nephritis as primary inflammation targets.

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals is continuing clinical programs during the COVID-19 challenge and advancing novel approaches to cancer, inflammation, and viruses.

Argenx is developing new antibody therapeutics for immunological diseases in the neuromuscular, hematology, oncology, and other areas. The company has a full pipeline of candidates and indications.

This 10-person startup in San Diego is aiming for muscle-spasm relief without sedation in a purified drug.

Adaptive Phage Therapeutics has created a large catalog of bacteria-killing viruses combined with a diagnostic test to identify and target specific bacterial strains infecting individual patients.

In developing a new drug for MPN diseases, Imago is entering a space where two potential competitors, Jakafi and Inrebic, both JAK (janus associated kinase) inhibitors, are already on the market.

Scynexis is creating multiple development programs and a new class of antifungals — all in a single, and singular, drug.

Obsidian Therapeutics targets gene and cell therapies with a technology designed to control the production and activity of therapeutic proteins those therapies induce.

This month’s company to watch is eXIthera, which is focused on inhibiting Factor XIa, a new target that may offer a way to avoid the bleeding problems with current anticoagulants.

Leading Biosciences is applying the science of digestive proteases to treating or preventing multiple diseases and conditions, starting with delayed return of post-surgical bowel function (ileus) and adhesion with its lead product candidate, coded LB1148.

Bioharmony Therapeutics is developing novel, “lysin-based” antimicrobials. The company is out to change the world of antibiotics, not by tweaking an old formula, but by advancing an entirely new mode of action.