Our discovery programs are primarily conducted by Hormos Medical, our wholly-owned Finnish subsidiary. Over the last seven years, Hormos has built a drug discovery capability centered on novel pharmaceutical compounds involving the tissue specific regulation of estrogen effects for the treatment of certain age-related diseases. Applying this expertise, we are focusing our current research programs on SERMs and HSD inhibitors.

HSD Research Program

The 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) type 1 enzymes enhance the estrogen response in specific target tissues, such as breast and endometrium tissues, by converting the low-activity estrone to high-activity estradiol and therefore cause relative estrogen deficiency in selected tissues. Selective inhibition of this enzyme is considered a novel therapeutic approach with potential applications in treating diseases such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids and breast cancer and which may also have applications for shrinking prostate size in men. Several of the compounds from this program were originally developed through a collaboration between Solvay Pharmaceuticals and Hormos Medical, to which QuatRx has licensed exclusive rights.

SERM Research Program

This program builds on work already completed with Ophena™ and fispemifene in the SERM area, and in particular focuses on the treatment of hot flashes in women. We have built up a SERM library in which several candidate molecules show no estrogen-like effects in breast or uterine tissue, but demonstrate estrogen-like effects in the central nervous system, which could have a positive effect in treating hot flashes in menopausal women.