BridgeBio unveils SHP-2 inhibitor play Navire
BridgeBio Pharma LLC (Palo Alto, Calif.) launched Navire Pharma Inc., a subsidiary aimed at treating genetically driven, treatment-resistant cancer, with a $30 million investment. Navire plans to start clinical testing of its Src homology protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2; SHPTP2; PTPN11) inhibitors in about 12-15 months.
Navire has exclusive rights to the SHP-2 inhibitor program from the Institute for Applied Cancer Sciences (IACS) at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A team led by IACS' Phil Jones and New York University's Benjamin Neel discovered Navire's lead compounds. Navire’s scientific advisory board includes NYU's Kwok Kin-Won and MD Anderson's Scott Kopetz, as well as Frank McCormick of the University of California San Francisco and Lillian Siu of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre...