Cascade Bio is a biotechnology company that transforms chemical manufacturing through the innovative use of enzymes. Its core mission involves unlocking enzyme cascades to create a wide array of molecules using biological processes. This approach aims to shift chemical production from petroleum-based methods towards more sustainable, enzyme-driven manufacturing.
Cascade Bio envisions a future where enzymes enable the creation of durable and cost-effective chemical products. Their work is designed to combat climate change by aligning economic benefits with environmental preservation and human well-being. By leveraging biocatalysts, Cascade Bio seeks to offer business solutions that are both efficient and eco-conscious.
Targeting Biological Pathways for Drug Discovery
Cascade Bio’s scientific strategy for drug discovery centers on targeting biological pathways, sequences of biochemical reactions within cells. These pathways involve various components, including genes and proteins, that interact to regulate cellular actions and respond to environmental changes. This approach differs from traditional drug development, which often focuses on single targets, by considering the broader network of interactions within a cell.
The company’s proprietary enzyme immobilization technology, termed “Body Armor,” enhances the performance of these biocatalysts. This technology stabilizes enzymes on silica beads, making them more resilient and capable of functioning across a wider range of temperatures, solvents, and pH levels.
Targeting biological pathways is a significant approach because these cascades are involved in all physiological processes and, consequently, in many diseases. By understanding and influencing these complex networks, Cascade Bio aims to develop therapies that can address the root causes of diseases rather than just their symptoms. This method can reveal underlying mechanisms affected by a drug, providing a comprehensive overview of its systemic effects.
This detailed understanding of pathways allows for the identification of potential drug targets with minimum disruptive side-effects. It moves away from the “one drug-one target” concept, embracing a systems biology perspective that recognizes the interconnectedness of biological processes. This broader view supports the development of more effective and potentially safer treatments.
Addressing Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases
Cascade Bio focuses on addressing challenging conditions, particularly inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory responses are complex cascades involving immune mechanisms that overcome tissue injury and initiate healing. However, when these responses become uncontrolled, they can lead to various pathological conditions, including autoimmune disorders.
Autoimmune diseases are challenging due to the self-amplified inflammatory cascades involving elements like cell-free DNA, reactive oxygen species, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Current single-target therapeutic approaches often have limited efficacy against these complex interactions. For instance, conditions like lupus nephritis, a renal inflammatory disease, often require long-term corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, highlighting a significant unmet medical need.
Cascade Bio aims to overcome these challenges by developing therapeutics that can influence the complement system, a part of the innate immune system involved in numerous diseases, including neurological and renal disorders. For example, their work includes a gene therapy approach for diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis. These diseases represent substantial health burdens, with approximately 1 in 3 of the 37.3 million diabetics in the US potentially developing diabetic nephropathy, a progressive and often fatal condition.
Pioneering New Therapeutic Solutions
The company’s “Body Armor” technology significantly improves enzyme stability and resilience, lays the groundwork for developing more robust and effective biocatalysts. This technological advancement supports the creation of next-generation drugs that can tackle complex biological problems with greater precision and longevity.
By targeting entire biological pathways rather than isolated targets, Cascade Bio is positioned to develop treatments that offer a more comprehensive impact on disease mechanisms. This holistic strategy has the potential to address the underlying complexities of conditions like autoimmune diseases, where multiple interconnected factors contribute to the pathology. The company’s commitment to leveraging biological cascades to create diverse molecules could lead to breakthroughs across various therapeutic areas.