IonTX Inc
IonTX Inc is a biotech startup working towards the future of precision medicine for pain conditions and for neurological and psychiatric illnesses. The company is further developing our patented and licensed non-opioid small molecule for acute and chronic pain associated with battlefield trauma. IonTX has developed a next-generation ion channel modulator that harnesses the incredible power of intracellular helper proteins to normalize abnormal cell firing that maintains and progresses pain. The team consists of academic and industry experts specializing in chemical science, neuroscience, pharmacology, and CNS drug discovery.
Industries
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
IonTX Inc is currently seeking investment
IonTX Inc is seeking a pre-seed investment in the range of 5m-20m
Products
Analgesic IONTX-PAIN
IONTX-AD is a small molecule that inhibits the binding of FGF13 with ion channel 1.7 at dorsal root ganglia. This complex is upregulated in different types of pain conditions leading to overexpression of Nav1.7 on the cell surface and enhanced firing of dorsal root ganglia, thereby perpetuating pain. We have shown efficacy of our initial compound for type 2 diabetic neuropathy, burn pain and itch, HIV-related pain, and post-operative pain. The latter we used as a proxy for pain associated with battlefield trauma. IonTX recently received a two-year grant with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to test our asset for pain related to burn, an injury more common among our service members than civilians. and which hinders service members returning to active duty or fully enjoy civilian life. We are currently executing programs of lead optimization to enhance the potency and duration of our molecule, and to prepare it for IND submission.
Analgesic IONTX-PAIN
IONTX-AD is a small molecule that inhibits the binding of FGF13 with ion channel 1.7 at dorsal root ganglia. This complex is upregulated in different types of pain conditions leading to overexpression of Nav1.7 on the cell surface and enhanced firing of dorsal root ganglia, thereby perpetuating pain. We have shown efficacy of our initial compound for type 2 diabetic neuropathy, burn pain and itch, HIV-related pain, and post-operative pain. The latter we used as a proxy for pain associated with battlefield trauma. IonTX recently received a two-year grant with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to test our asset for pain related to burn, an injury more common among our service members than civilians. and which hinders service members returning to active duty or fully enjoy civilian life. We are currently executing programs of lead optimization to enhance the potency and duration of our molecule, and to prepare it for IND submission.
Expertise Areas
- Neurotherapeutics development
- Precision medicine for neurology and psychiatry
- Ion channel drug discovery
- Electrophysiology
Key Technologies
- Ion channel modulation
- Voltage-gated sodium channel targeting
- Electrophysiology
- Protein-protein interaction modulation
Key People
Fernanda Laezza, MD, PhD
Founder and chair of Board of Directors; Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Scientific Founder
Gregory Cuny
Professor, Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston
Nicola Abate
Co-Director, Diabetes, Lipids and Endocrinology Clinics, Bay Area Metabolic Health; Endocrine Consultant, Methodist Hospital at Baytown and Clear Lake
Diana S-L Chow
Professor, Drug Discovery & Development; Professor of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston
John Allen
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology; Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch
Fernanda Laezza, MD, PhD
Founder and chair of Board of Directors; Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Scientific Founder
Gregory Cuny
Professor, Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston
Nicola Abate
Co-Director, Diabetes, Lipids and Endocrinology Clinics, Bay Area Metabolic Health; Endocrine Consultant, Methodist Hospital at Baytown and Clear Lake
Diana S-L Chow
Professor, Drug Discovery & Development; Professor of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston
John Allen
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology; Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch
News & Updates
Describes advances in developing allosteric modulators for voltage-gated sodium channels as therapeutic targets.
Reports on functional modulation of sodium channels using peptidomimetics for therapeutic purposes.
Discusses methodologies for studying ion channels using bioluminescence techniques.
Explores the potential for targeting protein-protein interactions in ion channel drug discovery.
Describes advances in developing allosteric modulators for voltage-gated sodium channels as therapeutic targets.
Reports on functional modulation of sodium channels using peptidomimetics for therapeutic purposes.
Discusses methodologies for studying ion channels using bioluminescence techniques.
Explores the potential for targeting protein-protein interactions in ion channel drug discovery.