It is quite clear that we are not going to be able to rely on a single magic bullet, and that the successful treatments of RAS cancers will involve the simultaneous targeting of multiple vulnerabilities."

- Dr. Dafna Bar-Sagi, Ph.D.

About TEZCAT Laboratories:
TEZCAT Laboratories is committed to the research and development of novel therapies to treat Ras cancers with high unmet needs, such as colorectal cancer.  Our biologics will act on a novel protein target to simultaneously block two critical cancer processes:
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1. Nutrient Scavenging via Macropinocytosis
2. YAP1 Signaling

 
Our technology has an additional benefit in that it aims to leverage a metabolic adaptation of Ras cancer cells, enabling site-specific drug delivery directly to the tumor cells while leaving healthy tissue unaffected.

Born out of NYU Langone Health, our team is committed to refining and delivering our leading-edge technology from bench to bedside. TEZCAT Laboratories has been accepted into the 2018 Entrepreneurship Lab (ELab) Program, an initiative of NYC's Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)

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Relevant Publications:
Macropinocytosis

1. Macropinocytosis: A Metabolic Adaptation to Nutrient Stress in Cancer
2. Macropinocytosis Exploitation by Cancers and Cancer Therapeutics
3. Macropinocytosis of protein is an amino acid supply route in Ras-transformed cells
4. Human pancreatic cancer tumors are nutrient poor and tumor cells actively scavenge extracellular protein

YAP1 Signaling

1. YAP1 and TAZ Control Pancreatic Cancer Initiation in Mice by Direct Up-regulation of JAK–STAT3 Signaling
2. Yap1 activation enables bypass of oncogenic Kras addiction in pancreatic cancer
3. Role of YAP and TAZ in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and in stellate cells associated with cancer and chronic pancreatitis
4. The RAS and YAP1 dance, who is leading?
5. Downstream of Mutant KRAS, the Transcription Regulator YAP Is Essential for Neoplastic Progression to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma