Development of small molecule epigenetic therapeutics for prostate cancer

In this administrative supplement proposal, we form a three-team member to participate I-Corps program. Our team consists of Dr. Zhi-Ping Liu (C-level corporate officer), Dr. Qing-Jun Zhang (Technical Lead), and Mr. Kellen Ragsdale (Industry Expert). Dr. Liu is the scientific co-founder of Raphael Pharmaceuticals LLC, the grantee small business. Dr. Liu’s lab established KDM4B as a target for prostate tumorigenesis and identified lead compounds B3 and its analogs. She is one of the inventors of our technology, use of KDM4B inhibitors in prostate cancer therapy, and PI of the STTR Phase I grant. Dr. Liu will lead the three-member team and implement the overall commercialization strategy for the project based on knowledge gained during the I-Corps program. Dr. Zhang has been trained as post-doc with Dr. Liu and is now a senior research scientist in her lab and Technical lead in Raphael Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Zhang has scientific background in epigenetics, nuclear hormone receptors, cancer, and transcriptional regulation. His expertise and work in epigenetics contributed significantly to our project development. Dr. Zhang has participated in all aspects of the development of KDM4B inhibitors in Dr. Liu’s lab and is intimately familiar with the technology. Mr. Ragsdale was a Business Development Manager at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is a recognized expert in commercializing MedTech and BioTech products and seasoned independent consultant who helps his clients with their IP needs in all aspects of early- stage technology, product development, and business creation. Mr. Ragsdale had extensive meetings with the technology inventor Dr. Zhi-Ping Liu on the project and is very enthusiastic and committed to the project. All team members are committed to the program and able to meet the time-intensive requirements of the training program. Our technology has been filed for patent protection. The aim of the proposal is to learn from the I-Corps program how to conduct background research into competitive IP landscape, value proposition, market assessment, reimbursement model, and identifying commercialization pathway. We are willing to modify, realign, and pivoting our initial commercialization strategy based on thorough interview with potential customers and industry experts and knowledge gained from the program.Project narrative Castration resistant prostate cancer is a lethal disease. Current clinical therapies can only slow down the progression of the disease and give rise to the prevalence of drug- resistance. The proposed research is relevant to public health because the success of the proposal could help us in the future to design disease modifying drugs to inhibit prostate cancer progression. Success of the proposal may develop effective treatments and address drug-resistance for men with high-risk of recurrent/metastatic prostate cancer.