Calistoga Pharmaceuticals is developing innovative therapies for cancer and a variety of immune disorders, including allergies and inflammatory conditions. Our current research efforts are focused on developing small molecule inhibitors of a critical intracellular signaling component known as phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). The PI3K pathway stimulates numerous processes that promote cell proliferation, growth, motility, metabolism and survival. While these processes are important for the health of normal cells, inappropriate activation contributes to the development and progression of cancer and immune disorders.

The field of PI3K-targeted therapies holds great promise. Calistoga Pharmaceuticals has established a differentiating position in the field by focusing on a particular member of the PI3K family of proteins, known as PI3K-delta. Unlike other forms of PI3K, the delta form is expressed primarily in blood-cell lineages, including cells that cause or mediate hematologic malignancies, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and allergies. A specific inhibitor of the PI3K-delta is expected to have therapeutic effects in these diseases without inhibiting PI3K signaling that is critical to the normal function of healthy cells. A variety of studies have shown that inhibition of other PI3K forms can cause significant toxicities, particularly with respect to glucose metabolism, which is essential for normal cell activity.

Through the expertise and broad intellectual property in the area of PI3K-delta inhibition, our research efforts are positioned to enable new treatments for a variety of diseases that compromise or take the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year.