Our core technology platform is based on the use of boron chemistry to develop novel therapies. Boron is a naturally occurring element that is ingested frequently through consumption of fruits, vegetables, milk and coffee. Boron has two attributes that we believe provide compounds with drug-like properties. First, boron-based compounds have a unique geometry that allows them to have two distinct shapes, giving boron-based drugs the ability to interact with biological targets in novel ways and to address targets not amenable to intervention by traditional, carbon-based compounds. Second, boron's reactivity allows boron-based compounds to interact with a biological target to create a change that is specific to a particular disease or condition.

Despite the ubiquity of boron in the environment, a limited amount of research has been done to evaluate the therapeutic promise of boron-based compounds. This lack of research activity was due to the availability of carbon-based natural products and proteins as the starting points for small-molecule drug discovery. In addition, the evaluation of boron-based compounds as product candidates has been hampered by an insufficient understanding of the physical properties necessary to provide boron-based compounds with the chemical and biological attributes required of pharmaceutical therapies. Boron-based compounds have also been historically difficult to synthesize.

Significant advances have recently been made in the science and practice of boron-based drug discovery. Advanced computational techniques have been developed to improve the understanding of boron-based compounds and their interaction with key biological targets relevant to treating human disease. Additionally, new methods and tools for the rapid synthesis of boron-based compounds have been developed to facilitate the creation of new compound families. These new compound families expand the universe of biological targets that can be addressed by small-molecule, boron-based compounds.

We believe our focus on boron-based chemistry provides us with multiple advantages in the small-molecule drug discovery process. These advantages include:

Novel access to biological targets. Due to the unique geometry and reactivity of boron-based molecules, our boron-based compounds are able to modulate existing biological targets and can address targets not amenable to intervention by traditional carbon-based compounds. This may enable us to treat conditions that have been difficult to treat effectively with carbon-based compounds and develop antibiotic therapies that treat infections that have become resistant to other drugs.

Broad utility across multiple disease areas. Our compounds have exhibited antibiotic, antiparasitic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and have generated extensive in vitro and in vivo activity in a number of different disease models. In addition, our compounds have exhibited antiviral and anticancer properties in in vitro disease models.

Rapid and efficient synthesis of drug-like compounds. Our recent proprietary technological advances in the synthesis of boron-based compounds coupled with our rational drug design practices have enabled us to rapidly create large families of boron-based compounds with drug-like properties. In addition, these advances have made manufacturing of boron-based compounds feasible on a commercial scale.

Unencumbered intellectual property landscape. We believe the intellectual property landscape for boron-based pharmaceutical products is relatively unencumbered compared to that of carbon-based products, providing an attractive opportunity for us to build our intellectual property portfolio.