Liver cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers, with current treatments offering limited benefit and difficult side effects for most patients. AT-101, the first drug from our Targeted Oncolytic Peptide (TOP™) platform, is designed to change this by precisely targeting liver tumors, reducing toxicity, and activating the immune system to eliminate cancer more effectively. Early evidence shows that AT-101 can remain in the liver long enough to shrink tumors that were once inoperable—opening the door to life-saving surgical options. We are now raising funds to launch a Proof-of-Concept clinical trial that will bring this breakthrough to patients who urgently need new hope. Your support can help move AT-101 forward and ensure that this promising therapy does not disappear in the Valley of Death, where too many potential cures are lost.
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AT-101 is the first cancer drug emerging from our Targeted Oncolytic Peptide (TOP™) platform—and it’s designed to take on one of the world’s deadliest cancers: liver cancer. The most common form, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), strikes more than 41,000 people in the U.S. every year, most of whom are already battling chronic liver disease. Current treatments for advanced disease help fewer than half of patients and often come with harsh side effects. Even with today’s best care, the 5-year survival rate remains under 23%.
This is the gap AT-101 is built to close. Our TOP™ platform is engineered to create cancer drugs that are not only more effective, but also far better tolerated. By honing in on cancer cells with remarkable specificity, our molecules are designed to reduce toxicity, cut manufacturing costs, speed cancer elimination, and activate the patient’s immune system to fight back. AT-101 represents a powerful new path forward—one that offers real hope where it’s needed most.
We are now raising funds to launch a Proof-of-Concept clinical trial in liver cancer (HCC). We’re starting with HCC for a powerful reason: in earlier trials, our lead candidate AT-101 showed a remarkable ability to remain in the liver long enough to destroy cancer cells and create real clinical impact. Tumors once considered inoperable may become removable after treatment with AT-101—a potentially life-saving shift for patients who currently have few options.
We have already raised $2.1 million through a friends and family round, and our Seed Round is now underway. We are also in confidential partnership discussions with a major pharmaceutical company.
Most of the funds raised through this portal will go directly toward our core operational work—advancing AT-101 and preparing for clinical trials. A portion will also support outreach to traditional biotech funders, such as venture capital firms and family offices, as well as efforts to secure strategic partnerships that can accelerate our progress.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Lewis is a proven leader in life sciences, with 25 years of experience in clinical research, drug development, patient care and teaching. He founded A28 Therapeutics and serves as Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Dr. Lewis served in various clinical development roles, most recently as CMO of Ansun Biopharma where he successfully led the company’s late-stage clinical trials of therapies for parainfluenza, influenza, and COVID-19, anchored its fundraising team on the way to securing $100M in Series B financing, and provided strategic leadership on the company’s in-licensing efforts. Prior to Ansun, Dr. Lewis was CMO at TaiMed Biologics where he led the company to US FDA approval of TROGARZO™, the first long-acting agent and the first monoclonal antibody treatment for HIV disease. He was instrumental in securing additional regulatory designations and grant funding, as well as manufacturing and commercial licensing for TaiMed development programs. Dr. Lewis serves on multiple scientific and medical advisory boards for both for-profit and non-profit organizations focused on improving healthcare, clinical research, and education. Dr. Lewis is a graduate of the University of Texas McGovern Medical School where he completed his internship, residency, and fellowship in Internal Medicine. He also earned a Master’s in Public Health while serving as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Lewis completed his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Lewis has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles, holds multiple patents, and has been a principal investigator on numerous Phase 1-4 clinical trials.
Chief Business Officer
Rhonda Wallen leverages her 25+ years of experience to help founders and CEOs set strategy, navigate financings and plan for growth and has been instrumental in bringing several new drug therapies to market. She was most recently Chief Strategy Officer / EVP of Caresyntax, a VC backed provider of a digital analytics platform for the surgical suite. Prior to this Ms. Wallen was Head of Global Corporate Development at Terumo BCT, the $1 billion biomedical division of Terumo Corporation, a multinational leader in medical technology. In this role, she successfully developed two new lines of business, one of which is currently >$100M in revenues, and led the cross-functional evaluation and negotiation of multiple strategic transactions for blood and cell therapy technologies. Prior to joining Terumo, she held executive roles in oncology focused biotech companies Andarix Pharmaceuticals, and Biodesix (NASDAQ: BDSX), and was founding CEO of Caveo Therapeutics, an early stage oncology biotech for which she raised seed capital, launched a reagent product line and progressed preclinical candidates towards the clinic. Prior to this, Ms. Wallen was an investment professional with Sequel Venture Partners, a venture fund with > $400M under management. Ms. Wallen holds a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University, a Master of Science in Microbiology from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester Simon School of Business.
Head of Research
Dr. Leuschner is Vice President, Research & Development for A28 Therapeutics. A clinical researcher and biotechnology innovator, she has more than 20 years of experience designing, testing and developing anticancer drugs. Dr. Leuschner previously served as Vice President of R&D for Esperance Pharmaceuticals, where she led the discovery and development of the company’s lead compound, now known as AT-101, from pre-clinical to clinical stage prior to the compound’s acquisition by A28 Therapeutics in 2021. She is the co-inventor of the therapeutic platform, for which she holds 11 issued and 3 pending patents in the US and several other countries to date. Previously, Dr. Leuschner served as Associate Professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she advanced research in the field of membrane disrupting peptide conjugates for cancer treatment, and nanoparticles for imaging and treatment. She is the author of more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, more than 50 peer-reviewed abstracts, and various book chapters and review articles, and she has extensive experience securing grant funding for clinical research and seed financing to drive advances in the treatment of cancer. Dr. Leuschner is an active member of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). She also serves as board member for an organization developing a CBD-based treatment for cancer, as well as an organization developing treatments for pain and various skin conditions. Dr. Leuschner holds a B.S., M.S. in Chemistry and Biology and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Hanover, Germany.
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