ABOUT US
Artasome Therapeutics is a biotech company focused on the treatment of chronic, rare diseases including interstitial lung disease (ILD), pulmonary fibrosis and autoimmune disorders.
Rare diseases are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and patients often have few approved therapeutic options.
RARE DISEASE TARGETS
The company received its first orphan drug designation from FDA for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) during November of 2024.
The company received its second orphan drug designation from FDA for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) during January of 2025.
THE SCIENCE
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a key component of the innate immune system. Continuous activation and chronic upregulation of this pathway can lead to pathogenic inflammation and tissue fibrosis, a process called innate driven inflammatory-fibrotic (IDIF) disease. NLRP3 activation drives inflammasome assembly, and therefore plays a critical role in the IDIF disease process. This has been linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and autoimmune disorders such as systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Inflammasome assembly, caused by NLRP3 activation, drives the production of caspase-1 resulting in the secretion of cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 causing chronic inflammation. It also activates the protein Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) which leads to pyroptosis or cell death via the formation of pores in cell membranes.
​These same inflammasome mediators and processes are also associated with fibroblast activation, extracellular matrix (ECM) production, collagen deposition and increased signaling of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) causing epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT) transition of cells and tissue fibrosis.
Inflammasome mediators and tissue fibrosis are also linked to the dysregulation of numerous endogenous processes via the activation of damaged associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). These include the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial stress, lysosomal dysfunction and ion flux.
OUR DRUG CANDIDATE
Artasome’s drug candidate is a small molecule that has been shown to inhibit NLRP3 activation by blocking the binding of NEK7 to the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain of NLRP3. This interaction is required for inflammasome assembly, which results in chronic inflammation and tissue fibrosis.
Statistically significant results in multiple preclinical models have established the potential of this compound to treat both chronic inflammation and tissue fibrosis.
POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY
Treat patients with multiple rare diseases
First in class mechanism of action
Address a pathogenic innate system pathway