Lead Asset

First in class and highly de-risked

The first compound that JSK Therapeutics™ is bringing to market is JS-K, a first-in- class nitric oxide (NO)-generating compound of the arylated diazeniumdiolate class. JS-K was developed through collaboration between the team of Dr. Larry Keefer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and Dr. Paul Shami’s laboratory at the University of Utah.

JS-K has shown single agent activity in animal models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM), non-small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, prostate cancer, glioma and Ewing’s sarcoma. JS-K has synergistic activity with cytarabine against AML and synergistic activity with bortezomib against MM. JS-K shows promise in other synergistic configurations.

Besides its direct cytotoxic effects, JS-K is a potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis. Mechanistically, JS-K impairs the redox state of malignant cells by depleting intracellular glutathione, a critical tripeptide cellular antioxidant.

Using nanoparticles, the Shami laboratory has developed a formulation for JS-K. JS-K that is well tolerated without induction of hypotension in a dog toxicology study. The FDA has granted orphan drug designation for JS-K for the indications of AML and MM. JS-K is a new chemical entity that will constitute a paradigm shift in cancer therapy.

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