IU professor launches Indianapolis startup Kovina Therapeutics to pursue HPV-related cancer treatments
Dr. Elliot Androphy, a professor in the IU School of Medicine, founded Indianapolis-based Kovina Therapeutics to develop small-molecule medicines that target HPV proteins and kill infected cells. IU has co-owned related patents and the startup has received university seed support, venture backing and NIH grants.
Dr. Elliot Androphy, a professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, founded Kovina Therapeutics, an Indianapolis-based bioscience company focused on developing novel medicines to treat human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-associated cancers.
Researchers in Androphy’s lab and collaborators at IU discovered small drug-like molecules that block a key viral protein (E6) that disables the tumor-suppressor p53; those molecules induce death of HPV-infected cells and are the basis of Kovina’s therapeutic program.
BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.
Related coverage
- Indy Chamber names Alan Pyrz COO to strengthen operations supporting Indianapolis businesses
- Young and SBA chief push higher SBA loan caps to help Indiana farmers and manufacturers
- Indy Chamber, Mirror Indy award five small businesses IN Focus ad campaigns with $10,000 plus $26K match