Cyterix: CYPing on prodrugs

Current prodrug technologies for cancer either cannot discriminate between healthy and tumor cells, and thus become active in both cell types, or are activated only in specific cells within solid tumors. Cyterix Pharmaceuticals Inc. believes the prodrugs developed with its OncoCYP technology will allow for activation only in cancer cells, while also targeting a range of solid tumors.

The biotech has two programs in preclinical development, and expects the $9.2 million series A round it raised last week will get at least one program into Phase I...