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8 n e w h a v e n B I Z | D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m O n T h e R e c o r d | Q & A By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo N ew Haven-based biotech company Cybrexa erapeutics has had a spate of good news in recent months — from positive anti- tumor results in a drug trial to reaching a $702-million deal to help bring its cancer treatments to market. In 2022, roughly 1.9 million Americans were expected to be diagnosed with cancer, with 609,360 cancer-related deaths in the country, according to American Cancer Society projections. In late October, Cybrexa announced that the first in-human study of its oncology drug candidate, CBX- 12, showed evidence of effectiveness against tumors in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. One patient with ovarian cancer achieved complete response, a breast cancer patient achieved partial response, and 13 patients maintained stable disease, according to Cybrexa. e phase one data also showed the drug was safe and well tolerated, according to the five-year-old, clinical-stage oncology company. e ongoing study continues to evaluate safety and tolerability, and the data will be used to determine dosage in a phase two study. Cybrexa's pipeline aims to combat breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancers and a range of other tumors. e company is developing novel tumor- targeting peptide drug conjugate (PDC) therapeutics. Shortly aer its encouraging phase one trial results, Cybrexa announced in November it had reached a $702-million deal for an exclusive collaboration agreement with California company Exelixis Inc., which grants the latter the right to acquire CBX-12. Exelixis Inc., founded in 1994, already has anti- cancer medications on the market, such as Cabometyx. Exelixis will pay an upfront fee of $60 million for the right to acquire CBX-12. Cybrexa may also be eligible to receive up to an additional $642.5 million, such as for development, regulatory and commercial milestones, and CBX-12 acquisition. As part of the recent investment and in preparation for phase two clinical trials, the 24-employee company has plans to hire 10 more people in clinical development and other roles. New Haven Biz recently chatted with Per Hellsund, president and CEO of Cybrexa, about what the study results mean, and what his hopes are for the new collaboration with Exelixis. How does Cybrexa's drug candidate, CBX-12, work? It is based on a peptide technology that was originally discovered at Yale, and further developed at the University of Rhode Island. is particular peptide reacts to a low pH or highly acidic environment. Cancer cells are very acidic. is peptide forms an alpha helix, or you can think of it as a corkscrew that translocates or crosses the cell membrane of cancer cells when it comes in contact with this acidic environment. What we are doing is utilizing this peptide to deliver highly potent cytotoxics, or chemotherapeutics, directly to the cancer cells. e objective is to target the cancer cells and spare normal tissue. We can take very potent cytotoxics that are very effective at killing cancer cells. You can look at it as a heat-seeking missile. Folks have referred to it as a 'smart bomb.' How is it delivered to patients? It is an IV infusion. What is the significance of the results of the phase one study in humans? With the phase one study there were two primary objectives. One was to establish safety and tolerability of the drug to make sure that it is safe. e other is to establish the recommended phase two dose. Cancer In e Crosshairs Cybrexa Therapeutics' leadership team includes (from left) Chief Scientific Officer Vishwas Paralkar, CEO Per Hellsund, and Chief Financial Officer Stephen Basso. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Cybrexa's development drug aims to act as 'heat-seeking missile' against tumors P e r H e l l s u n d Cybrexa Co-Founder, President & CEO Age: 58 Education: MBA, Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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