Acute Thrombolysis Reimagined

Basking Biosciences’ aim is to solve the biggest need in acute thrombosis – for a rapid-onset, short-acting thrombolytic drug that is capable of reopening arteries, and whose activity can be quickly reversed in the event of bleeding. Basking’s technology is based on two decades of translational research on RNA aptamers as therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases. The initial clinical application will be in ischemic stroke where a short acting, reversible approach to thrombolysis has the potential to significantly expand the use of acute thrombolytic treatment to many more patients than currently approved agents.

Basking has successfully completed a Phase 1a single ascending dose safety study with BB-031 and is initiating a Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept study in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The company is also conducting preclinical explorations of BB-031 in pulmonary embolism.

The company is developing BB-031, a first-in-class RNA aptamer targeting von Willebrand Factor (vWF), a critical, non-redundant driver of the clot formation, propagation and stabilization. In tandem, Basking is developing BB-025, a rapid-acting complementary oligonucleotide that immediately neutralizes BB-031 pharmacological activity in the event of bleeding. Preclinical research in multiple gold-standard animal models demonstrated that BB-031 quickly establishes recanalization of blocked blood vessels in the brain, as late as 6 hours after stroke onset.

Acute Stroke:
Deadly, Disabling, Undertreated

Current Treatment Pathway for Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally
  • 1.7M annual cases in US, EU5, and Japan
  • Adult global lifetime risk of as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) >18%
Current Treatments reach <15% of all Patients
  • TPA associated bleeding risk limits utilization
  • Clot accessibility and need for a surgeon limit usage of thrombectomy
Stroke is costly with poor outcomes

– Leading cause of long-term disability
~$240B annual US cost in 2030

Our Approach

Acute thrombolytic drug with a complementary reversal agent

BB-031 has demonstrated superiority to recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) across multiple gold-standard experimental models. Reversal agent BB-025 expands the clinical utility of that agent by allowing for hemostatic modulation.

BB-031 Expands Eligible Patient Population for Stroke Therapy

Current Therapeutic Approaches

  • rTPA: short therapeutic time window
  • Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy: longer therapeutic time window but isn’t applicable to majority of patients

Basking Therapeutic Approach

Improved risk-benefit profile over standard-of-care (SOC) allows:

  • Use in expanded time window
  • Expansion of eligible as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patient population for acute revascularization
  • US addressable market: ~425k patients/year

Mechanism of Action

von Willebrand factor (vWF) drives both clot formation but also pathological expansion.

von Willebrand factor (VWF) influences thrombus initiation, amplification and propagation via multiple mechanisms

  • Adhesion: Localize platelets to site of injury
  • Aggregation: Binding platelets together via GpIb⍺-A1 axis
  • Binds FVIII, amplifying secondary platelet activation
  • Propagation: Self-associates, creating a long scaffold for platelet aggregation
  • Inflammation: Recruits leukocytes, which catalyze inflammation

Safety

Reversible and Short Duration

  • Neutralization of drug effect in < 5 min if needed
  • ~3-hour pharmacodynamic effect
  • Well tolerated in GLP toxicology studies

 

Efficacy

Optimized for Stroke Therapy

  • Superior to rTPA in multiple animal models
  • Rapid onset of action (< 5 mins.)
  • BB-025 allows hemostatic modulation

Funding Update

To be updated with press release on close of financing.

View Press Release