Cellestia Biotech develops therapies to control pathogenic gene expression. While its lead oncology candidate, CB-103, has advanced to phase 2 clinical trials, Cellestia is expanding a rich R&D pipeline of novel gene transcription factor inhibitors targeting oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Cellestia is a leading pioneer in identifying and targeting gene transcription factors (GTFs) implicated in human disease. With its lead compound CB-103, the company has successfully proven the approach's principle, getting a new mode of action first-in-class GTF-targeting drug to the clinic and demonstrating that it is well-tolerated and works for what it was designed. The scientific foundation of this success is based on ten years of academic research prior to the company's foundation, led by Raj Lehal (Chief Scientific Officer and member of the Board of Directors). In 2015, Michael Bauer joined Cellestia as CEO, complementing the academic founder team with industry and development expertise. Cellestia's unique know-how and approach to rational drug design has enabled the company to build a pipeline of novel GTF inhibitors, establishing the company in this emerging field of innovative drug development.

Cellestia's clinical-stage drug candidate, CB-103, acts as a first-in-class PPI inhibitor of the “CSL/NICD transcription complex”, the converging point and most downstream event of the NOTCH signalling cascade. The range of possible indications is caused by tumour biology. It involves both very rare cancers such as cancer of the salivary gland and a subtype of childhood leukaemia and considerable indications like specific sub-types of breast and colorectal cancer.

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