Ligand Pharmaceuticals

Castle Creek Biosciences, Inc. is a gene therapy company headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, that specializes in developing and commercializing personalized gene therapies for rare skin and connective tissue disorders. Founded in 2015, the company utilizes a fibroblast technology platform that extracts fibroblast cells from a patient's own skin to create localized therapies tailored to the individual’s unique biology. This innovative approach aims to address the underlying causes of diseases that currently have high unmet medical needs, ultimately improving the lives of patients suffering from these underserved conditions.

Palvella Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The company focuses on developing pathogenetically targeted therapies for serious and rare genetic skin diseases that lack approved treatments. Its lead candidate, QTORIN 3.9 % rapamycin anhydrous gel, is built on a patented QTORIN platform and is in late‑stage clinical development for two rare genodermatoses. Palvella’s approach emphasizes addressing the root cause of disease and delivering stable, room‑temperature formulations that penetrate the epidermis and dermis.

invIOs is a private biotechnology company that specializes in the discovery and development of next-generation cancer therapies that empower and educate the immune system to fight cancer.

Agenus Inc. is a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative immunotherapies and vaccines for cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Lexington, Massachusetts, the company aims to activate the immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells through a diverse portfolio that includes checkpoint antibodies, tumor microenvironment modifiers, and vaccine adjuvants. Agenus utilizes its proprietary Retrocyte Display platform for antibody discovery and develops a range of therapeutic candidates, including monoclonal antibodies and vaccines targeting various tumor-specific neo-epitopes. The company has several products in clinical trials, including CTLA-4 and PD-1 antagonists, and collaborates with notable partners such as Incyte Corporation and Merck Sharpe & Dohme to advance its immuno-oncology therapies. Founded in 1994, Agenus continues to build its capabilities in research, development, and manufacturing within the field of immunotherapy.

Novan, Inc. is a clinical development-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, focused on creating nitric oxide-based therapies for dermatological and oncovirus-mediated diseases. The company is engaged in the development of several clinical-stage dermatology product candidates, including SB204, a topical treatment for acne vulgaris; SB206, an anti-viral gel for viral skin infections; SB208, a broad-spectrum anti-fungal gel for skin and nail infections; and SB414, a topical cream for inflammatory skin diseases. Additionally, Novan is developing SB207, another topical anti-viral product candidate. By utilizing a proprietary technology platform that encapsulates nitric oxide in nano-particles, Novan aims to deliver therapeutic agents precisely to targeted areas in the body. Established in 2006, the company collaborates with strategic partners to advance its innovative therapies addressing unmet medical needs.

xCella Biosciences Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics through protein engineering and innovative technology. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the company specializes in antibody discovery using its proprietary platform, xPloration. This advanced integrated hardware and software system facilitates high-dimensional measurement and analysis of genotype, phenotype, and cellular functions at the single-cell level, enabling the examination of millions of cells simultaneously. By providing researchers with near-complete coverage of the antibody repertoire, xCella aims to identify rare antibodies that target challenging biological structures, thereby transforming patient outcomes in various therapeutic areas. As of September 2020, xCella operates as a subsidiary of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Taurus Biosciences is a private biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, focused on discovering and developing novel antibodies derived from immunized cows. The company leverages the unique genetic and structural diversity of bovine ultralong CDR3 antibodies, which feature some of the longest CDR3s among species. This diversity enables binding to challenging antigens, making these antibodies valuable for applications in therapeutics, diagnostics, and research. Taurus Biosciences was incorporated in 2017 and has intellectual property stemming from significant discoveries at Scripps Research and the Applied Biomedical Science Institute.

Pfenex Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, specializing in the development of protein therapies to address unmet medical needs. The company’s lead product candidate, PF708, aims to serve as a therapeutic equivalent to Forteo for osteoporosis treatment. Additionally, Pfenex is advancing several other candidates, including PF743 and PF745, both of which are recombinant crisantaspase variants, and PF810, a next-generation peptide therapeutic in preclinical development. The company also offers sparX-1 and sparX-2 and has established licensing and supply agreements for CRM197, a modified diphtheria toxin. Central to Pfenex's operations is its proprietary Pfänex Expression Technology, a protein expression platform that utilizes Pseudomonas fluorescens, enabling efficient and rapid identification of high-yield protein production strains across various applications, including therapeutics and vaccines.

Palvella Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The company focuses on developing pathogenetically targeted therapies for serious and rare genetic skin diseases that lack approved treatments. Its lead candidate, QTORIN 3.9 % rapamycin anhydrous gel, is built on a patented QTORIN platform and is in late‑stage clinical development for two rare genodermatoses. Palvella’s approach emphasizes addressing the root cause of disease and delivering stable, room‑temperature formulations that penetrate the epidermis and dermis.

Technology Platform. Icagen’s extensive biological capability focused on ion channels, transporters and x-ray fluorescence, along with a strong track record in novel drug discovery from screening to lead optimization. Ion channels are key components in a wide variety of biological processes that involve rapid changes in cells and have broad therapeutic applicability including cancer, metabolic disease, pain, neurological diseases, infectious diseases and others. Roche Collaboration to develop and commercialize therapies for neurological diseases. The collaboration provides research funding, potential milestone payments of up to $274 million and tiered royalty payments should a drug be commercialized. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) Collaboration to discover therapeutics to treat patients with cystic fibrosis caused by specific genetic mutations. The CFF collaboration allows for up to $11 million in research funding, milestone payments of up to $59 million and tiered royalties on sales, should a product be commercialized. Proprietary Service Unit to Drive New Collaborations and Revenue, including a 32-person R&D team based in Raleigh, N.C., now known as Icagen, a Ligand Company, focused on drug discovery of ion channels and transporters. Icagen provides Ligand with an East Coast operation to efficiently serve partners and brings a portfolio of current or recent/active collaboration agreements with over 30 biopharma companies plus an ongoing business development pipeline. Novel, Unpartnered Programs that include six preclinical-stage assets applicable to a range of therapy areas including diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, pain and other disorders.

Ab Initio Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing protein therapeutics, particularly focusing on the identification of antibodies targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company utilizes its proprietary antigen discovery platform to generate therapeutic antibodies for challenging cellular targets, which enables it to address a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas, including cancer immunotherapy and disorders related to the neurological, cardiovascular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems. Incorporated in 2015 and based in South San Francisco, California, Ab Initio operates as a subsidiary of Ligand Pharmaceuticals. Its strategic collaboration with Pfizer enhances its capabilities in drug development and innovation within the biotherapeutics sector.

Dianomi Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Madison, Wisconsin, founded in 2017. The company specializes in developing innovative therapies for inflammatory diseases, with a primary focus on osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Dianomi Therapeutics utilizes its proprietary mineral coated microparticle (MCM) technology to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of both large and small therapeutic molecules. This advanced delivery system aims to provide sustained release of active biologics, addressing challenges commonly faced by traditional drug delivery methods. By improving the safety, efficacy, and duration of therapeutic effects, Dianomi Therapeutics strives to offer better treatment options for patients suffering from inflammatory conditions.

Palvella Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2015 and headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The company focuses on developing pathogenetically targeted therapies for serious and rare genetic skin diseases that lack approved treatments. Its lead candidate, QTORIN 3.9 % rapamycin anhydrous gel, is built on a patented QTORIN platform and is in late‑stage clinical development for two rare genodermatoses. Palvella’s approach emphasizes addressing the root cause of disease and delivering stable, room‑temperature formulations that penetrate the epidermis and dermis.

Vernalis Limited is a commercial stage pharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, focused on the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products for various medical disorders. The company offers several products, including Tuzistra XR for the U.S. prescription cough-cold market, Moxatag, a once-daily amoxicillin formulation for treating tonsillitis and pharyngitis, and frovatriptan for acute migraine treatment. Vernalis engages in developing and commercializing additional products through licensing agreements, emphasizing its strategy of combining internal research with collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies. Its research laboratories employ advanced techniques such as fragment-based approaches, structural biology, and medicinal chemistry to facilitate drug discovery. Established in 1988, Vernalis operates as a subsidiary of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Crystal Bioscience is a privately-held biotechnology company based in Emeryville, California, founded in 2008. The company specializes in discovering and developing therapeutic antibodies using chickens as part of its unique discovery platform. This approach leverages the significant evolutionary distance between birds and mammals to generate a wide variety of antibodies targeting human proteins that have been difficult to address with traditional methods. Crystal Bioscience's technology allows for the isolation of monoclonal antibodies from immunized chickens and enables simultaneous screening for specificity and biological activity, facilitating the development of therapeutic antibodies for various diseases.

OMT

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California, focusing on the development of innovative therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company’s lead drug candidate, VK2809, is an orally available selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta and is currently undergoing Phase 2b clinical trials for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Additionally, Viking is advancing VK5211, a non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator in Phase II trials aimed at patients recovering from hip fracture surgery. Other notable candidates in development include VK0612, a drug for type 2 diabetes, and VK0214, another selective agonist targeting X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. Founded in 2012, Viking Therapeutics is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its specialized research and development efforts in metabolic disorders.

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative drug formulations to overcome the limitations of existing therapies. The company leverages its proprietary drug formulation technology, primarily using Captisol, a class of cyclodextrins, to create a diverse portfolio of product candidates. Its offerings include treatments for conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, antifungal infections, canine motion sickness, status epilepticus, multiple myeloma, epilepsy, arrhythmia, asthma, atherothrombosis, and allergic rhinitis. Additionally, CyDex licenses its technology to third parties for the development of their therapeutic products. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, the company was previously known as CyDex, Inc. before rebranding in 2007.

Neurogen Corporation is a drug development company historically focusing on small-molecule drugs to improve the lives of patients suffering from psychiatric and neurological disorders with significant unmet medical need. Neurogen has conducted its drug development independently and, when advantageous, collaborated with world-class pharmaceutical companies to access additional resources and expertise.

Metabasis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs by applying its proprietary technologies, scientific expertise and unique capabilities for targeting the liver and liver pathways. The Company has established a broad pipeline of product candidates and advanced research programs targeting large markets with significant unmet needs. Metabasis' product pipeline represents candidates indicated for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia and diabetes, among others. Additionally, our pipeline includes drug candidates for the treatment of liver diseases such as hepatitis and primary liver cancer which the company plans to license to companies focused on these areas. All of our product candidates were developed internally using proprietary technologies including our NuMimetic and HepDirect technologies.

Pharmacopeia, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of therapeutics for unmet medical needs. The company's internal program portfolio includes PS433540, a dual-acting angiotensin and endothelin receptor antagonist currently in phase II clinical development for cardiovascular and renal diseases, such as hypertension and diabetic nephropathy. Additionally, PS178990, a muscle selective SARM agonist, is in phase I clinical development. Pharmacopeia also has a preclinical product, PS031291, aimed at treating multiple myeloma and inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, as well as JAK3 inhibitors targeting T-cell and cytokine mediated dermatologic and ocular conditions, including psoriasis and dry eye. The company has formed strategic alliances with several pharmaceutical firms, enhancing its research and development capabilities. Founded in 1993 and based in Cranbury, New Jersey, Pharmacopeia was previously known as Pharmacopeia Drug Discovery, Inc. and became a subsidiary of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2008.