Mitobridge Secures Key Intellectual Property From The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Agreement includes comprehensive intellectual property estate for multiple programs

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitobridge, Inc., previously known as Mitokyne, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the discovery and development of products that improve mitochondrial function, today announced that the Company has entered into an agreement with the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences to access intellectual property and technology related to Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Delta (PPARd). The exclusive worldwide license grants key patents and reagents developed in the laboratory of Mitobridge co-founder Professor Ronald Evans for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases in both humans and animals. Dr. Evans, who was bestowed the Lasker Award for his work in nuclear hormone receptors, is the March of Dimes Chair in Developmental and Molecular Biology and Professor and Director of the Gene Expression Laboratory at the Salk Institute. He is also a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

“Considerable insight linking mitochondrial dysfunction and disease pathologies has been gained over the last few years, and Mitobridge is poised for a leadership position in discovering innovative therapies.”

Mitobridge is advancing a selective PPAR modulator (SPPARM) program based on recent developments in the understanding of the pharmacology of this drug target and the potential to utilize a PPARd modulator as an exercise mimetic. The Company’s latest results indicate that a PPARd modulator may be working through mitochondria and have potential to treat mitochondrial myopathies as well as other musculoskeletal disorders.

“We are excited about the opportunity to capitalize on the innovative PPARd technology that has been developed over the past several years in the Evans lab. The results from pre-clinical studies suggest that our molecules might be safer yet similarly effective to earlier generation PPARd compounds”, commented Mike Patane, PhD, Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery at Mitobridge. “We hope to translate the original discoveries from the Evans lab into meaningful therapeutics for disorders that will benefit from improving mitochondrial function.”

The Company was launched in October 2013 under the name Mitokyne to capitalize on the emerging biological understanding of how mitochondria function impacts health via bioenergetics, signaling, dynamics and biosynthesis. The Company recently changed its name to Mitobridge and filed a trademark application for that name. In addition, Mitobridge has closed a second tranche of financing led by MPM Capital, Longwood Fund and Astellas Pharma Inc.

“I am pleased with the progress the Company has made in our first year and the commitment demonstrated by our investors and our therapeutics partner, Astellas Pharma,” said Kazumi Shiosaki, PhD, President and CEO of Mitobridge. “Considerable insight linking mitochondrial dysfunction and disease pathologies has been gained over the last few years, and Mitobridge is poised for a leadership position in discovering innovative therapies.”

About Mitobridge
Mitobridge is a leader in the emerging field of mitochondria-related drug discovery and development. The Company is utilizing its innovative screening platform to identify and develop novel therapeutics that improve mitochondria function and provide treatments for mitochondrial genetic diseases, musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative disorders as well as diseases and conditions of aging. Mitobridge’s scientific founders and advisors include world-renowned leaders in biology and mitochondrial function. For more information about Mitobridge, please visit the company's website at www.mitobridge.com.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world's preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probes fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer's, diabetes and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.

Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, MD, the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.