Ascenta (Shanghai) R & D Center is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc. The Company has engaged to discovery and development of novel anti-cancer medicines in both sides of the Pacific. It includes offices and laboratories dedicated to advancing its preclinical pipeline.
Ascenta Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California, with a clinical trials management office in Malvern, Pennsylvania and a research and development subsidiary in Shanghai, China. The company is dedicated to the discovery and development of a new generation of medicines for the treatment of cancer.
Its core technology was licensed from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the University of Michigan (U.M.) and involves agents designed to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells. Its lead compound, AT-101, is an orally active inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins and is in Phase 2 cancer trials in a number of oncology indications.
Its pipeline consists of second-generation inhibitors of the Bcl-2 proteins, and other key proteins in the apoptosis pathways, including inhibitors of XIAP and MDM2.
Its patent estate covers method of use and pharmaceutical composition for its lead compound and pipeline. Ascenta's founders are internationally renowned experts in cancer research and are well-versed in the disciplines of drug discovery and development. Ascenta completed a $50 Million Series C round of financing in March 2007 with six top-tier investors (Perseus LLC, Domain Associates, Sofinnova Ventures, Enterprise Partners VC, Scale Venture Partners and US Venture Partners).