OUR TECHNOLOGY

At MAX BioPharma, we are developing medicinal applications of proprietary semi-synthetic oxysterol derivatives, derived from our platform technology, Oxysterol Therapeutics®. Oxysterols are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol that can be activators or inhibitors of specific cellular signaling pathways, including Hedgehog (Hh), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) pathways. Safe activators of cellular Hh signaling are useful in regenerative medicine to stimulate new bone formation in spinal fusion, fracture healing, regeneration of bone defects, and osteoporosis. Safe and effective inhibitors of Hh and TGF-β signaling are needed in certain cancers, such as lung and pancreatic cancer, and in pathologic fibrosis in liver, kidney and lung. TLR signaling plays a major role in chronic inflammatory diseases including fibrosis, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, and psoriatic arthritis among others.

We have identified promising oxysterol-based drug candidates that can effectively inhibit the TGF-β and Hh signaling pathways with applications in oncology and fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, kidney fibrosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced inflammatory form of fatty liver disease that can lead to liver failure and liver cancer. This newly identified class of oxysterols, exemplified by our lead compound Oxy210, was recently shown to inhibit MASH and its co-morbidities, including atherosclerosis and adipose tissue inflammation, in a humanized hyperlipidemic mouse model (see publications here). In our research, we often start from naturally occurring oxysterols with a certain biological profile (e.g., anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic) and then evaluate structural changes to obtain new sterol derivatives of higher potency and with drug-like properties that can be developed into therapeutic agents and devices. Currently, we focus on developing Oxy210 for MASH (supported by research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)). Additional opportunities based on oxysterols derived from our Oxysterol Therapeutics® platform are in cancer (pancreatic and lung cancer), kidney and pulmonary fibrosis, viral and bacterial infections, including hepatitis B (HBV), coronavirus (SARS‑CoV‑2), and tuberculosis. We strive to develop these opportunities by way of research collaborations with key opinion leaders in academia and industry and support from state and federal funding agencies.