The concept of biomimicry is nothing new. In one way or another, human beings have always examined natural systems to solve human problems. But applying biomimicry on the molecular level is something new, and Radnor-based PolyMedix is employing the concept to develop drugs to treat serious, life-threatening diseases.
PolyMedix is a small biotech firm that develops products to treat infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders. The company is based on proprietary computational drug design technology licensed from the University of Pennsylvania. William DeGrado and Michael Klein developed the technology at Penn and in 2002 formed the company, which employs about 15 and designs small molecule compounds that mimic or regulate the activity of certain proteins.
DeGrado pioneered
de novo design, an approach that involves the design of molecules from "first principles." That is, it begins with a known molecular framework and then adds chemical appendages to produce specific desired properties.
The company has created novel antibiotic compounds and heptagonists--i.v. antibiotic candidate PMX-30063 and the anticoagulant antagonist product candidate PMX-60056--which began human clinical trials in August and September 2008, respectively.
On July 15, 2009, PolyMedix announced the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to the company relating to angiogenesis inhibitors. Angiogenesis is a process involving the growth of new blood vessels, and the abnormal growth of new blood vessels is associated with many diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common form of blindness in the elderly, cancers, and inflammation. In 2010, the company nearly doubled its grant and contract revenues from the previous year. In April, 2011, Polymedix annonced an underwritten offering of common stock for up to $20 million to help fund continued development of its lead products.