Darnatein employs synthetic biology approaches and a proprietary design-augmentation (DA) in silico platform to identify structural motifs critical for activity and immunogenicity of endogenous proteins of interest, and create novel therapeutics combining increased potency and functionality with high immune tolerance.
We seek to advance beyond established natural protein therapeutics (such as BMPs) by designing and developing novel analogues with improved clinical profiles to "cure patients better than Mother Nature®".
Our current focus lies in the BMP protein family, where clinical use of the natural proteins, such as in Osteoarthritis (OA), is characterized by high dose requirements and associated significant side effects. Furthermore, age-related decline in BMP receptor activity limits the usefulness of therapy with natural proteins.
Our unique synthetic biology approach has already yielded produced two promising candidates:
DRT-101: a BMP-7/Activin chimeric Darnatein in preclinical development and intended as a DMOAD in Osteoarthritis.
DRT-102: a BMP-2/Activin superagonist in clinical development for spinal fusion applications, which underscores the technical and clinical feasibility of our approach.
Besides the current applications in the generation of improved BMP-like protein therapeutics, our science and platform can be applied to a range of other protein families of known biomedical relevance including non-union bone fractures, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), and dental implants.
