After a period of what was described as being 'in limbo', the firm Quintessence Biosciences Inc ceased operation some time in 2017. After a very promising start focused on the development of novel protein-based therapeutics as anti-cancer agents based on EVade Ribonuclease Technology, which allows for the engineering of human proteins (ribonucleases) for the treatment of human diseases, when senior management moved on, the firm's efforts stalled. Anchored in patents acquired by the Company through an exclusive license with the University of Wisconsin, the firm worked with enzymes that degrade ribonucleic acid (RNA). These ribonucleases can be internalized and end up in the cytosol of the cell, however their action is blocked by another protein, called the ribonuclease inhibitor (RI). The EVade RNase technology allows the production of enzymatically active variants that have diminished binding to ribonuclease inhibitor. The EVade Ribonucleases are able to degrade RNA, which ultimately results in inhibition of protein synthesis and cell death. EVade Ribonuclease tec Company has advanced lead candidate QBI-139 into a Phase I human clinical trial at the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center and second-generation products are under development, with pre-clinical work ongoing.
