BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

Curtana: Curtains for CSCs

Curtana's OLIG2 inhibitors sensitize brain cancer by targeting stem cells

May 19, 2014 7:00 AM UTC

Curtana Pharmaceuticals Inc. is developing small molecule inhibitors of OLIG2, a transcription factor that may maintain cancer stem cells that help glioblastoma multiforme resist and bounce back from cancer therapy.

GBM was seen as fatal until the 2005 approval of Temodar temozolomide, which improved patient prognosis but left considerable room for improvement. Only 10% of patients survive at least five years after standard of care, which is best surgery possible followed by radiation and Temodar...