Technology – Bound Therapeutics

Bound Therapeutics | Technology

About Our Technology

AI-Optimized RNA-Peptide Bioconjugation (AI-RPB)

Precision delivery of RNA therapies and beyond

Understanding

Targeting Cancer-driving RNAs

Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy is an innovative approach to treating cancer by targeting the disease at the genetic level. This therapy uses specially designed molecules called antisense oligonucleotides, which are short strands of synthetic DNA or RNA.

Here’s how it works: cancer often occurs when certain genes in our cells start behaving abnormally, leading to uncontrolled cell growth. ASOs are designed to specifically bind to the messenger RNA (mRNA) produced by these faulty genes. By binding to the mRNA, ASOs can block the message that tells the cell to produce harmful proteins, effectively “silencing” the problematic gene.

This targeted approach is what makes ASO therapy so promising. Because it can directly interfere with the process that leads to cancer, it has the potential to stop or slow down the disease while causing fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments like chemotherapy, which affects both healthy and cancerous cells.

Researchers are actively exploring ASO therapy for various types of cancer, with some treatments already showing encouraging results in clinical trials. As this technology advances, it could offer a more precise and personalized way to fight cancer, providing new hope for patients.

Our Solution

RNA Therapeutics Platform

At Bound Therapeutics, we’ve created cutting-edge RNA-based treatments that specifically target the key drivers of cancer growth and treatment resistance. Our innovative drug design ensures these therapies are delivered directly to cancer cells, minimizing side effects and overcoming the challenges of traditional RNA treatments.

Unlike conventional drugs, our RNA therapies can reach cancer-related targets that were previously considered untreatable, and they offer the flexibility to be customized for personalized medicine.

Our lead drug, BND6482, has shown both effectiveness and safety in an aggressive breast cancer mouse model by targeting microRNA-21, a critical RNA molecule overexpressed in all solid tumors. Building on this success, we are expanding our platform to develop treatments for lung, colon, prostate, and brain cancers.

AI-Optimized Design with Magic Bullet Designer

By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, Bound Therapeutics is able to navigate the complex landscape of RNA drug design and development with increased precision, efficiency, and the potential to transform the treatment of challenging diseases, such as drug-resistant cancers.

Integration with Cutting-edge Technologies

Leveraging advanced tools for superior structure prediction
within our pipeline.

Expertise in Peptide Discovery

Uncovering sequence patterns and decoding peptide-protein interactions.

de novo Peptide Ligand Design

Innovating peptide ligands using advanced algorithms and models.

Versatility in Small Molecule Prediction

Extending capabilities to predict and analyze small molecules, broadening its application beyond peptides.

Molecular Docking Expertise

Employing advanced docking techniques to accurately predict ligand-protein interactions, offering valuable insights into binding affinities and potential therapeutic efficacy.

Versatile Drug Delivery

Engineering peptide ligands capable of efficiently transporting a broad spectrum of drug payloads, including small molecules, oligonucleotides, siRNAs, and nanoparticles.

Application

Program & Pipelines

Intellectual Properties

New patent application will be filed for each new composition of matter agent discovered:

MYC messenger RNA inhibitors

Compositions and methods for MYC messenger RNA inhibitors (PCT/US2018/049055)

Treatment of Cancer

Compositions and Methods for the Treatment of Cancer (PCT/US2024/019719)

Treatment of Coronavirus Infection

Compositions and Methods for the Treatment of Coronavirus Infection (US17/470676)

Publications

Tripathi, S. K., R. Kean, E. Bongiorno, D. C. Hooper, Y. Y. Jin, E. Wickstrom, P. A. McCue, and M. L. Thakur. (Apr 2020)

"Targeting Vpac1 Receptors for Imaging Glioblastoma." Mol Imaging Biol 22, no. 2: 293-302.

Oh, E., Y. Liu, M. V. Sonar, D. E. Merry, and E. Wickstrom. (Apr 18 2018)

"Fluorescence Imaging of Huntingtin Mrna Knockdown." Bioconjug Chem 29, no. 4: 1276-82.

Jin, Y. Y., J. Andrade, and E. Wickstrom. (2015)

"Non-Specific Blocking of Mir-17-5p Guide Strand in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Amplifying Passenger Strand Activity." PLoS One 10, no. 12: e0142574.

Wickstrom, E. (Jun 29 2015)

"DNA and Rna Derivatives to Optimize Distribution and Delivery." Adv Drug Deliv Rev 87 : 25-34.

Sonar, M. V., M. E. Wampole, Y. Y. Jin, C. P. Chen, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Sep 17 2014)

"Fluorescence Detection of Kras2 Mrna Hybridization in Lung Cancer Cells with Pna- Peptides Containing an Internal Thiazole Orange." Bioconjug Chem 25, no. 9: 1697-708.

Sanders, J. M., M. E. Wampole, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (2013)

"Molecular Determinants of Epidermal Growth Factor Binding: A Molecular Dynamics Study." PLoS One 8, no. 1: e54136.

Sanders, J. M., M. E. Wampole, C. P. Chen, D. Sethi, A. Singh, F. Y. Dupradeau, F. Wang, B. D. Gray, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Oct 3 2013)

"Ehects of Hypoxanthine Substitution in Peptide Nucleic Acids Targeting Kras2 Oncogenic Mrna Molecules: Theory and Experiment." J Phys Chem B 117, no. 39: 11584-95.

Paudyal, B., K. Zhang, C. P. Chen, M. E. Wampole, N. Mehta, E. P. Mitchell, B. D. Gray, J. A. Mattis, K. Y. Pak, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Nov 2013)

"Determining Ehicacy of Breast Cancer Therapy by Pet Imaging of Her2 Mrna." Nucl Med Biol 40, no. 8: 994-9.

Sethi, D., C. P. Chen, R. Y. Jing, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Feb 15 2012)

"Fluorescent Peptide-Pna Chimeras for Imaging Monoamine Oxidase a Mrna in Neuronal Cells." Bioconjug Chem 23, no. 2: 158-63.

Amirkhanov, N. V., K. Zhang, M. R. Aruva, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Apr 21 2010)

"Imaging Human Pancreatic Cancer Xenografts by Targeting Mutant Kras2 Mrna with [(111)in]Dota(N)- Poly(Diamidopropanoyl)(M)-Kras2 Pna-D(Cys-Ser-Lys-Cys) Nanoparticles." Bioconjug Chem 21, no. 4: 731-40.

Tian, X., M. R. Aruva, K. Zhang, N. Shanthly, C. A. Cardi, M. L. Thakur, and E. Wickstrom. (Oct 2007)

"Pet Imaging of Ccnd1 Mrna in Human Mcf7 Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Xenografts with Oncogene-Specific [64cu]Chelator-Peptide Nucleic Acid- Igf1 Analog Radiohybridization Probes." J Nucl Med 48, no. 10: 1699-707.

Cesarone, G., O. P. Edupuganti, C. P. Chen, and E. Wickstrom. no. 6 (Nov-Dec 2007)

"Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 Knockdown in Human Mcf7 Er+ Breast Cancer Cells by Nuclease-Resistant Irs1 Sirna Conjugated to a Disulfide-Bridged D-Peptide Analogue of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1." Bioconjug Chem 18, no. 6: 1831-40.