Susan Monahan

Synta Pharmaceuticals

Synta Pharmaceuticals is an innovative, agile biopharmaceutical company focused on research, development and commercialization of novel oncology medicines that have the potential to change the lives of cancer patients. Our lead oncology drug candidate, ganetespib, a novel heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in several large randomized clinical trials including GALAXY-2, a pivotal Phase 3 trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as in breast cancer, ovarian cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Ganetespib has been studied in approximately 1350 patients in clinical trials to date. In preclinical models, ganetespib inhibits a molecular chaperone called Hsp90, essential to the function of many of the most fundamental drivers of cancer cell growth and proliferation. Treatment with ganetespib has been shown in preclinical models to reduce some aggressive features of tumors, such as the ability to induce the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), to spread to other organs in the body (metastasis), and to resist attack by traditional therapies (chemo-resistance). We are also developing several candidates from our proprietary Hsp90 inhibitor Drug Conjugate Program (HDC Program), which leverages the preferential accumulation of Hsp90 inhibitors in tumors to selectively deliver a wide array of anti-cancer payloads. Our first clinical candidate from our HDC Program, STA-12-8666, is undergoing testing to enable the filing of an investigational new drug application (IND). Preclinical evaluation of additional HDC candidates is ongoing.