Cayuga Biotech

Cayuga's Mission

Our mission is to harness biomimetic polyphosphate to address pressing unmet needs in human health. Polyphosphate plays several roles in human biology. Our initial focus for drug development leverages polyphosphate’s role in hemostasis.

Bleeding: Every year nearly 2 million people die of hemorrhage
Wound healing: Non-healing wounds and severe burns affect nearly 6 million people in the US each year

Lead candidate, CAY001, is anticipated to enter the clinic in 2022 for major bleeding in patients treated with anti-platelet medications. CAY001 is in development for additional follow-on indications including anti-coagulant related bleeding, refractory GI bleeding and trauma. In preclinical studies CAY001 has been shown to accelerate hemostasis without off-target thromboembolism.

Science & Technology

Polyphosphate activity is dictated by the chain length of the molecule. With a core capability in materials science, Cayuga optimizes biomimetic nanoparticle formulations of varying polyphosphate lengths for unique applications, including serious bleeding, rare bleeding disorders, central nervous system bleeding and wound healing.

Key Publications

Kudela D. “Restoring Hemostasis Following Injury Using Polyphosphate-Coated Silica Nanoparticles.” The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal. 2017, 31, 978.13.

Kudela D., Smith S.A., May-Masnou A., Braun, G.B., Pallaoro, A., Nguyen, C.K., Chuong, T.T., Nownes, S., Allen, R., Parker, N.R., Rashidi, H.H., Morrissey, J.H., Stucky, G.D. “Clotting Activity of Polyphosphate-Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2015, 54, 4018-4022.

Smith S.A., Choi S.H., Davis-Harrison R., Huyck J., Boettcher J., Rienstra C.M., Morrissey J.H. “Polyphosphate exerts differential effects on blood clotting, depending on polymer size.” Blood. 2010, 116, 4353-4359.

Smith S.A., Morrissey J.H. “Polyphosphate as a general procoagulant agent.” Journal of Thrombosis and Haemosasis. 2008, 6, 1750-1756.