DLVR Therapeutics is developing an innovative, HDL-like Peptide-Phospholipid Scaffold (HPPS) nanoparticle delivery system, initially for RNAi therapeutics.
DLVR Therapeutics – nanoparticle drug delivery system
DLVR Therapeutics is focused on developing a novel HDL-mimicking nanoparticle delivery system for nucleotides, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA). The ultra-small DLVR technology HPPS is biocompatible, nontoxic and biodegradable. HPPS exploits the unique property of HDL biology to create a hydrophobic channel in the cell membrane, which enables the delivery of siRNA directly into the cytosol of target cells. DLVR Therapeutics’ technology overcomes a major challenge with current delivery approaches targeting the endosome, thus exposing the nucleotide to enzymatic degradation. HPPS technology has a huge potential because it’s able to address another major delivery challenge in the promising field of siRNA therapeutics: active targeting of tumor cells by co-opting the natural receptor for HDL (expressed in selected cancers cells). HPPS technology exhibits similar pharmacokinetics as plasma-derived HDL with favorable biodistribution and long stable circulating time. HPPS nanoparticles are ultra-small (between 10 and 25 nm), non-immunogenic, nontoxic, biocompatible, easy to synthesize and customizable. HPPS replaces apoA-I protein by self-assembled apoA-I mimetic peptides on the phospholipid monolayer of the nanoparticle. This phospholipid monolayer is distinct from the more common phospholipid bilayer liposome structure, allowing these amphipathic nanoparticles to be well-controlled.
HPPS nanoparticles can be customized to carry different types and sizes of payloads, including contrast agents, chemotherapeutics, photodynamic therapy agents and small bioactive molecules. Different targeting moieties can be linked to the surface of HPPS nanoparticle to direct them to the intended target tissue: antibodies, small molecules, peptides, aptamers and targeting nucleotide sequences. DLVR Therapeutics has shown HPPS’s ability to target an SR-B1 expressing tumor and blunt tumor growth in in vivo cancer models, with a four-fold increase of siRNA half-life in circulation via HPPS delivery compared to classical systems.
DLVR Therapeutics is a privately held biotech company based in Toronto (Canada), founded in 2011. Investors are the University Health Network, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and MaRS Innovation. Gang Zheng, founding scientist, and Frank Gleeson, CEO, are helped by Board Directors (Brian Barber, Jeff Courtney, John Wallenburg, Franco Rossetto and Raphael Hofstein). DLVR Therapeutics is actively seeking biopharmaceutical partnerships.
More about DLVR Therapeutics: http://dlvrtherapeutics.ca
DLVR Therapeutics – HDL-like Peptide-Phospholipid Scaffold – HPPS – nanoparticle delivery system – RNAi therapeutics – small interfering RNA – siRNA – siRNA therapeutics – SR-B1
DLVR Therapeutics – HDL-mimicking nanoparticle – apoA-I protein – apoA-I mimetic peptides – MaRS Innovation – Gang Zheng – Frank Gleeson – Brian Barber – Jeff Courtney – John Wallenburg – Franco Rossetto – Raphael Hofstein