La Jolla buys GCS-100 rights from Solana

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company has acquired global development and commercialization rights to GCS-100 from Solana Therapeutics.

GCS-100 is an inhibitor of galectin-3, a novel molecular target implicated in cancer and chronic organ failure. Galectin-3 plays a key role in the immune system’s response to cancer and tissue injury, making specific inhibitors of galectin-3 attractive therapeutic candidates for a range of diseases.

GCS-100’s ongoing development as an anti-cancer and anti-fibrotic agent is supported by extensive preclinical and clinical investigation, including Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials involving more than 140 patients. As a part of the acquisition, George Tidmarsh, the former CEO of Solana, was appointed as the company’s president and CEO.

“Having been involved in the clinical development of GCS-100 over the past several years, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue this compound’s development,” Tidmarsh said.

“Targeting galectin-3 holds great promise in the treatment of a broad range of life-threatening conditions, and, with GCS-100, we have the most advanced galectin-3-targeting compound in development.”