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Neutrolis, Inc.
1 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02142
Targeting the Dark Side of DNA
Neutrolis is developing first-in-class therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases by targeting Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs).
About Us
Neutrolis, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target neutrophils, the most abundant immune cell in our body.
Neutrolis’ lead program targets Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). NETs are a fundamental arm of the innate immune system and play an important role in chronic and acute diseases.
Based in Cambridge, MA, Neutrolis was founded by two of the earliest and most cited leaders in the NETs field and is supported by seasoned business leaders. The company’s pipeline includes NTR-441 and NTR-452 that effectively removes NETs and halt their pathologic effects.
Founders
Toby Fox, PhD
Co-president & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Fox is an immunologist trained at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School. Before co-founding and transitioning into Neutrolis, Toby was a Principal Investigator at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Toby is one of the most cited researchers in the field of NETs with important contributions characterizing the formation and clearance of NETs as well as their implications in vascular diseases and organ injuries.
Abdul Hakkim, PhD
Co-president & Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Hakkim is an immunologist trained at Max Planck Institute and Harvard Medical School. Abdul’s PhD thesis was the first to report on the biology and implications of NETs in autoimmunity. At Harvard, Abdul worked on genetics of innate immunity and co-founded Genma/Artus, a spin-off out of Harvard and now Neutrolis.
Scientific and Medical Advisory Board
Science
The Dark Side of DNA
DNA is a very long chain of nucleic acids that is wound around histone proteins to form chromatin, which is then packed into the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Normally, DNA encodes proteins and the instructions needed to make cells function, but it has an additional function within our immune system. Neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the body, can expel their long chromatin fibers to form neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs), which activate multiple immune pathways that are implicated in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Current NETs Management
The balance between NETs formation and clearance is pivotal for maintaining homeostasis. As a result of persistent inflammation, NETs formation overwhelms the natural clearance mechanisms leading to an accumulation of NETs that exacerbates systemic immune response and end-organ damage. To date, NETs treatment strategies have predominantly focused on inhibiting the creation of NETs, a mechanism, which is conserved and highly biologically redundant.
The exDNASE™ Platform and Lead Program
The exDNASE™ platform is based on naturally occurring enzymes that degrade the extracellular chromatin that form NETs, and powers the creation of natural and engineered enzyme analogs that are capable of treating several acute and chronic unmet medical needs. The lead candidate NTR-441 is an enhanced analog of DNASE1L3, an enzyme produced by immune cells that degrades NETs into biologically inactive fragments to attenuate a severe immune response.
Publications
March 9, 2017
“Host DNAses prevent vascular occlusion by neutrophil extracellular traps,” Science. 2017; 358(6367):1202-1206.
March 9 2011
"Activation of the Raf-MEK-ERK pathway is required for neutrophil extracellular trap formation” Nature chemical biology. 2011; 7 (2), 75-77
March 9, 2010
“Extracellular DNA traps promote thrombosis,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2010; 107(36):15880-15885.
February 9, 2010
“Impairment of neutrophil extracellular trap degradation is associated with lupus nephritis”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2010; 107 (21), 9813-9818
March 9 2007
“Novel cell death program leads to neutrophil extracellular traps,” Journal of Cell Biology. 2007; 176(2):231-241.
*Note: Dr. Toby Fox publishes under his birth name Tobias Fuchs
Pipeline
Addressing autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
We are developing disease-modifying therapies for several NET-mediated diseases and significant unmet medical needs.
NTR-441
Systemically active engineered DNASE1L3
NTR-452
Locally active engineered DNASE1L3
Additional Programs
Several therapeutic programs are in development leveraging the robust exDNASE™ platform
Lupus
Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by autoantibodies against DNA and inflammation in the joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart and lungs.
Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ARDS)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when the lungs are severely injured, often by infection or trauma, which causes fluid to leak into the lungs, making it difficult to get oxygen into the bloodstream.
Additional Indications
Neutrolis is developing therapies for additional undisclosed neutrophil-driven conditions.
Indications
Lupus
Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by autoantibodies against DNA and inflammation in the joints, skin, kidneys, brain, heart and lungs.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when the lungs are severely injured, often by infection or trauma, which causes fluid to leak into the lungs, making it difficult to get oxygen into the bloodstream.
Additional Indications
Neutrolis is developing therapies for additional undisclosed neutrophil-driven conditions.
News
Company News
August 3, 2020
September 27, 2019
November 27, 2017
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