Metallomix Inc. is a clinical stage biotech company targeting isotopic dysfunction – a previously unrecognized driver of cancer and diseases of aging including neurodegenerative diseases.
Metals and isotopic fractionation play broad roles in human physiology. We focus on those roles in tumors, as well as in inflammation and oxidative stress. These closely interrelated processes often work in combination, leading to cellular dysfunction and disease progression. By selectively modulating cellular isotopic signatures with enriched stable isotopes, we aim to restore the healthy interplay between cellular homeostasis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, and to offer effective new treatments for cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative and other diseases of aging.
The mission of Metallomix is to bring truly novel medicines forward through understanding isotopic dysfractionation, and developing safe, effective, and clinically derisked small molecular isotopic modulators.
The metallome – metals in human biology and disease – plays an integral role in various biological functions, including amino acid and protein synthesis, DNA integrity and repair, and mitochondrial metabolism. We are leading the way in illuminating a metallome much more nuanced than simply the function of specific metals or oxidation states, offering a massive and previously unexplored opportunity for drug discovery and development.
Metallomix research shows that in our youth, healthy cells and tissues are enriched with lighter isotopes of essential metals, such as Zn and Fe (healthy isotopic fractionation), which shift towards heavier isotopes in cancer cells and as we age. This “isotopic dysfractionation” of stable (nonradioactive) isotopes triggers and amplifies inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of cellular homeostasis – leading to disease.
Understanding these isotope signatures is central to our unique approach to deciphering these diseases and designing drugs to restore healthy cellular function. Metallomix’s proprietary Isotope-Selective Modulation (ISMTM) therapies translate our metallome insights into disruptive new drug candidates to treat disease and promote health. Our first-in-class ISMTM clinical candidate, KLS-1, is currently enrolling a Phase 1/2 trial in patients with various cancers.
Metallomics: Emerging new bioscience combining chemistry, physics, and biology to study the biological roles of various metallic elements, their oxidation state and even their isotopic distribution (signature). This opens a new frontier for developing effective and safe therapies significantly impacting and perhaps ultimately curing many diseases.
Isotopic signatures: Altered cellular metal isotope distributions characteristic of cancer and other diseases, and of aging (isotopic dysfraction). Understanding these enables design of isotope modulating ISMTM therapies to restore healthy cellular function.
Metallomix Inc.: Pioneers in the field of isotopic metallomics with patented composition of matter, methods of use and a proprietary drug discovery platform. Developing KLS-1, the world’s first (stable) isotope selective modulator small molecule currently enrolling a Phase 1/2 in cancer.
Metallomix combines biochemistry and biophysics to leverage the body’s "metallome," and its broader molecular networks and other "omes" — such as the genome, proteome and microbiome.
Metallomix co-founder Sergei Petukhov, DVM, shares startup tips for biotech entrepreneurs.
