Second-Generation

MAIA has initiated an early-stage research and discovery program aimed at identifying new compounds capable of acting through similar mechanisms of activity as ateganosine (THIO), such as the targeting and modifying telomeric structures of cancer cells through cancer-cell intrinsic telomerase activity. The main objective for this program is to discover new compounds with potentially improved specificity towards cancer cells relative to normal cells and with potentially increased anticancer activity. This program may also allow us to strengthen our patent portfolio. Although the program is in early stages and we may not be able to identify suitable compounds, we believe we will be able to create a second generation of THIO-like compounds.

Our current 2nd-generation pipeline of potential telomere-targeting agents includes seven compounds that have successfully undergone in vitro inhibitory testing in five cancer models. The data from those studies showed a significantly lower 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for those compounds compared to ateganosine (THIO). Based on those data, we have progressed those seven compounds to in vivo testing. In January 2023, we nominated one lead new molecular entity candidate (designated as MAIA-2021-20) and one back-up new molecular entity candidate (MAIA-2022-12) for further advancement into preclinical GLP-toxicity and other studies and may advance one of these candidates into human clinical trials upon completion of the required preclinical evaluations. A third candidate (MAIA-2021-029) was selected in June 2023.

MAIA also filed a broad provisional patent application covering the composition of matter for the new telomere-targeting molecules in the fourth quarter of 2022.