After more than 20 years of endeavors, we have successfully developed a world-leading polysaccharide-based new drug discovery system and drug delivery platform called GlycoTDSTM, characterized by our technologies' unique properties. In this platform, several cutting-edge drug candidates have entered into different development phases, including the first-in-class (FIC)of new and improved drug candidates.

Polysaccharides are biomaterials containing repeating sugar units and have been widely used in drug delivery systems. Polysaccharides are biocompatible, non-immunogenic, biodegradable, and non-toxic. These properties make them attractive for use in drug formulations.

GlycoTDSTM is an innovatively proprietary and programable platform and allows the designed polysaccharide-based conjugates to modulate their pharmacokinetics (PK) and improve drug targeting, drug availability, tumor delivery, and tumor loading, while dramatically reducing side effects associated with cancer drugs.

Targeted drug delivery based on polysaccharides as carriers via macropinocytosis for active tumor targeting

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that play important roles in various biological processes. Some polysaccharides such as dextran, ficoll, etc.. have been found to exhibit active tumor-targeting ability via macropinocytosis.

Macropinocytosis is an exciting new therapeutic target 

Macropinocytosis is a cellular process that enables the uptake of extracellular fluid and nutrients through large vesicles known as macropinosomes. While this process occurs at very low levels in normal cells, many cancer cells—particularly those with high metabolic demands—rely heavily on macropinocytosis to support their rapid growth. This selective dependence makes macropinocytosis an appealing target for cancer therapy, offering the potential to disrupt tumor metabolism while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

Several key regulatory proteins are involved in controlling macropinocytosis, including RAS, EGFR, Rac1, Syndecan-1 (SDC1), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and NRF2. Targeting these regulators may provide a novel and selective therapeutic strategy against tumors that are highly dependent on this pathway.

Approximately 21–25% of tumors exhibit active macropinocytosis, including aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), triple-negative breast cancer, and certain types of lung cancer. These tumors often rely on the internalization of extracellular nutrients—such as polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, and amino acids—to fuel biosynthesis and energy production. Inhibiting macropinocytosis may “starve” these cancer cells, suppressing growth and potentially increasing their sensitivity to chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

Recent studies have shown that certain cancer cells can internalize up to ten times more dextran than albumin, highlighting the potential of using dextran-drug conjugates to selectively target macropinocytic tumor cells. This approach could offer improved drug delivery and efficacy in cancers that exhibit high levels of macropinocytosis.

Globally, an estimated 5 to 6 million cancer patients have tumors that depend on this nutrient-scavenging pathway. Therefore, targeting macropinocytosis represents a promising strategy for treating hard-to-manage cancers that currently lack effective therapeutic options.

Unique characteristics of  GlycoTDSTM  Proprietary platform

• Compared to other types of cancer therapies, drug candidates from the GlycoTDS™ platform harness macropinocytosis to transform the tumor cell membrane from a natural barrier into an active transport vehicle. This allows the drug to accumulate in high concentrations within tumor cells. Typically, tumor cell membranes act as natural barriers to both small-molecule and macromolecular drugs, hindering their entry.

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  The assembled Polysaccharide Drug Conjugates (PSDCs) are not recognized by immune cells, are not cleared by the reticuloendothelial system, and do not accumulate in normal organs such as liver, significantly enhancing the drug’s safety profile.

• This platform addresses key challenges and limitations associated with traditional antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and small-molecule drugs. By integrating tumor-targeting ligands with macropinocytosis-based delivery, it enables effective targeting across a broad spectrum of tumor types.

• PSDCs have strong potential to provide effective therapies not only for RAS-mutant tumors but also for a broad range of non-RAS-mutant cancers. In addition, PSDCs can work synergistically with (pan)RAS inhibitors to enhance treatment durability and help overcome drug resistance in hard-to-treat cancers.