Focusing On TMERs for Innovative Medicine
to Tackle Tumor Immune Escape
Tumor factors generate a unique microenvironment (TME) niche for tumor to escape body's immune attack. Cancers use TME factors to engage receptors (TMERs) expressed on the cells of the immune system to evade anti-tumor immune surveillance. GPCRs are an important class of TMERs modulating the differentiation, development, and function of the immune systems, both innate and acquired, and play an important role in diseases of inflammatory, autoimmune, and cancer. Depending on the subtypes of G-protein coupled and differential intracellular signal transduction pathways, a GPCR, upon engagement by a TME factor, can inhibit tumor-killing immune cells such as CTL and NK cells, induce the formation of immune suppressive cells (iTreg, MDSC, mReg-DC), or cause chemotactic migration and redistribution of immune cells in favor of tumor survival and growth in a patient body.
Key Management Team Members
Zhi (Zak) Liang Chu, Ph.D.
Founder, President, CEO/CSO
Ph.D. in Genetics from University of Minnesota
Post-doc at HHMI, Vanderbilt University & SBP Medical Discovery Inst.
10 years academic research in Genetics, Hematology & Oncology, Immunology
Inventor for >30 US patents in biology and drug targets
20+ years biotech experience, holding R&D executive positions prior to founding Crossignal Therapeutics in Aug. 2019
Sangdon Han, Ph.D.
Co-founder, EVP Medicinal Chemistry
Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from University of Minnesota
B.S.,MS., Seoul National University
Post-doc at UC Berkeley & U of Chicago
20+ years MedChem experience, held senior leadership positions in Medicinal Chemistry operations in biotech companies
Inventor for >30 patents in Medicinal Chemistry, including: Etrasimod (Velsipity™), Olorinab, Paltusotine, Atumelnant
Joined Crossignal Therapeutics in March 2020
Award & Recognition
Crossignal Therapeutics: A Novel Approach in Precision Medicine
Crossignal Therapeutics is at the forefront of pioneering research aimed at identifying specific GPCRs acting as TMERs. The company focuses on profiling the immune cell expression of these receptors and deciphering signal transduction pathways, with the ultimate goal of discovering groundbreaking drug candidates. Employing a Pathway-Precision Screen (PPS) assay platform, it is dedicated to advancing structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies for in-house designed compounds.
Crossignal Mission & Capabilities
Bring breakthrough therapies to cancer patients through innovation and discovery of whole new generation small molecule I-O drugs.
Dedicated to cutting-edge research to identify which GPCRs function as a TMER, conduct immune cell expression profiling, elucidate signal transduction pathways, and guide our effort for the discovery of “First-in-Class” drugs.
Established a Pathway-Precision Screen (PPS) assay platform to drive SAR of in-house designed compounds.
Deep-rooted experience in medicinal chemistry and in small molecule drug development, we are best positioned to achieve mission possible to bring a new generation of disruptive medicine to cancer patients.