Targeting MYC-mediated Malignancies
Coming Soon!
Targeting MYC-mediated Malignancies
Coming Soon!
Why Myc?
Myc is a master regulator oncogene altered / deregulated in approximately 70% of all human malignancies, driving tumor initiation, maintenance, and progression. It acts as a transcription factor, binding to DNA (partnered with MAX), amplifying gene expression, particularly those regulating cell growth, proliferation, and metabolism.
Unlike most cancer-causing genes that tend to be altered by a single mechanism, such as mutation or amplification, Myc can be deregulated by diverse processes. These include amplification (mostly occur in epithelial tumors), translocation (mostly in leukemias / lymphomas), increased oncogenic signaling which increases Myc expression and/or stability (most cancer types), enhancer activation, viral insertion (HPV in cervical cancer) and post-translational mechanisms such as loss of E3 ubiquitin ligases.
Myc Dysregulation
Myc controls global gene expression and regulates cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell cycle, metabolism and apoptosis.
In Vivo Studies
In vivo studies show that Myc inhibition elicits a prominent anti-proliferative effect and sustained tumor regression; any alteration on healthy tissue remains reversible.
Therapeutic Window
Therapeutic window makes Myc one of the most appealing therapeutic targets for cancer drug development.
The MYC and MAX proteins heterodimerize to form a functional transcription factor. Through their basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLHZip) domains, the pair binds to specific DNA sequences known as E-boxes (canonical core sequence \(CACGTG\)) to activate transcription and promote cell proliferation.
About MYC Therapeutics' Founding Executives
David Cory, RPh, MBA
David Cory, RPh, MBA
David Cory, RPh, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
David Cory is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of executive operational experience in private and public, emerging stage biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, with an established track record of building and managing full operating teams, including clinical and regulatory functions through all phase
Chief Executive Officer
David Cory is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of executive operational experience in private and public, emerging stage biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, with an established track record of building and managing full operating teams, including clinical and regulatory functions through all phases of product development, directed the commercial launch and commercialization of over 20 approved orphan and blockbuster brands across diverse therapeutic indications, and raised over $1B+ of capital in the financial markets to fund operations.
Mr. Cory began his emerging stage biotech career as a founding member and executive in multiple start-up companies including InterMune, CoTherix, and Prestwick Pharma, all of which resulted in exits by acquisition and totaled $9 Billion collectively. Mr. Cory began his industry career in large global pharma in positions of increasing operating responsibility at The Upjohn Company, Glaxo, Glaxo Wellcome, and Glaxo Smith Kline.
Mr. Cory earned a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, was board certified in Pharmacy and earned an MBA from the University of Maryland.
Alex Zukiwski, MD
David Cory, RPh, MBA
David Cory, RPh, MBA
Chief Medical Officer
Alexander Zukiwski is a physician with over 30 years of drug development and management experience in early-stage biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, with an established track record of hands-on development and management of comprehensive teams, including CMC, non-clinical, clinical and regulatory functions
Chief Medical Officer
Alexander Zukiwski is a physician with over 30 years of drug development and management experience in early-stage biotech and large pharmaceutical companies, with an established track record of hands-on development and management of comprehensive teams, including CMC, non-clinical, clinical and regulatory functions through Phases I-IV of product development, along with extensive collaborations with finance and commercial teams.
Most recently Dr. Zukiwski was the Chief Medical Officer of CASI Pharmaceuticals focused on the development of a clinical stage anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody for multiple myeloma and autoimmune disorders. Previously, he was the Chief Medical Officer of Arno Therapeutics and MedImmune and held senior level positions at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development / Ortho Biotech and Hoffman La Roche. Dr. Zukiwski started his pharmaceutical career at Rhone Poulenc Rorer.
Dr. Zukiwski earned a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Alberta, followed by an MD from the University of Calgary. He trained in Internal Medicine at St. Thomas Hospital and completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Ingrid Choong, PhD
David Cory, RPh, MBA
Ingrid Choong, PhD
Chief Operating Officer
Ingrid Choong is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of operational experience in private and public, emerging-stage biotech companies with an established track record of building and leading high performing clinical and regulatory development teams, business development and pipeline development, including p
Chief Operating Officer
Ingrid Choong is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of operational experience in private and public, emerging-stage biotech companies with an established track record of building and leading high performing clinical and regulatory development teams, business development and pipeline development, including product assessment, license negotiations, strategic partnerships, and alliance management.
Most recently, Dr. Choong was Head of Corporate Development at CASI Pharmaceuticals focused on the development of a clinical stage anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody for autoimmune disease. Previously, she was Chief Business Officer at LIB Therapeutics developing a PCSK9 inhibitor for cardiovascular disease, announcing a $325 million partnership for development and commercialization in China, and FDA approval. Earlier, Dr. Choong was founding member and SVP of Clinical and Corporate development at Eiger BioPharmaceuticals which obtained FDA and EMA approval and launched the first therapy to extend survival in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, an ultra-rare and fatal pediatric disease. Dr. Choong began her emerging-stage biotech career as a medicinal chemist at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals in discovery research.
Dr. Choong earned a BS in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a PhD from University of California at Berkeley.