Accuronix Therapeutics

Accuronix Therapeutics, Inc., is a small pharmaceutical company developing drugs for cancer treatment. The company was originally founded in 2015 by two faculty members at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) and has a lead small molecule, ACXT-3102, in preclinical development. An exclusive license for this technology has been negotiated with WUSTL. ACXT-3102 is a drug conjugate with two distinct functional domains: 1) sigma-2 ligand-based delivery domain facilitating fast and efficient internalization and 2) dm-Erastin effector domain that inhibits the cystine-glutamate antiporter (xCT, SLC7A11) thereby preventing the uptake of vital precursors necessary to defend the cells from oxidative stress and death. The molecule selectively targets cancer cells that overexpress the sigma-2 receptor and has been shown to be quickly taken up into cells which is required for biological activity. 

The company was awarded an STTR Phase II grant in June 2021 and has made 1 kilogram of the compound to support its ongoing preclinical development program. The company is currently targeting an IND submission in early 2025, and has a very mature patent estate covering its program in numerous Tier 1 countries.