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info@praetego.com

A preclinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to improving health outcomes in conditions and diseases related to glucose dysregulation. Our primary focus is serious diabetic complications.

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Our novel small molecules inhibit a common pathway associated with diabetic microvascular disease. For patients living with diabetes, limiting disease progression could improve quality of life, lower the cost of care, and extend lifespan.

1. Amadorins

The Amadorins are proprietary small molecules that inhibit the first step in the AGE pathway, a critical stage in limiting disease progression.

Praetego’s candidates are called ‘Amadorins’. These proprietary small molecules are unique inhibitors of the oxidative breakdown of proteins modified by glucose (Amadori products). This non-enzymatic process forms byproducts called Advanced Glycation End-products, or AGEs. In the AGE pathway, AGE formation and accumulation leads to diabetic microvascular disease. In diabetic patients, these glucose-mediated reactions damage blood vessels, nerves, the retina, and kidney. The AGE pathway is a powerful instigator of oxidative stress. This mechanism of damage is also active in cardiovascular disease and neurodegeneration.

The Amadorins inhibit AGE formation at its earliest stages. By interrupting the pathway at the first step of oxidative breakdown, Amadorins offer the greatest promise of protection against serious diabetic complications.

2. Development Programs

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)

Our lead indication is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN)—a degenerative process of the nerves in the extremities. Affecting approximately 50% of diabetics, DPN can be very painful. It can also lead to foot ulcers and amputations. Praetego’s Amadorins address the underlying cause of the damage.
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In a proof of concept study using a standard animal model of DPN, the Amadorins restored nerve function. They reversed nerve deficits in both large and small nerve fibers. In three generations of Amadorins tested, we confirmed that stronger AGE inhibition meant greater potency. In preclinical safety studies, the Amadorins demonstrated a wide therapeutic window and minimal off-target hits.
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Our current drug development work is funded by the National Institute of Diabetic and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Other Serious Diabetic Complications

Beyond DPN, we are exploring how the Amadorins could address Cognitive Decline, Nephropathy (Chronic Kidney Disease), and Retinopathy.

3. Company

praetego verb \ pruh-tay-go\
latin “to protect”

Praetego was founded in 2017 in Durham, North Carolina.

Management

Our team members led the discovery and development of the Amadorins and offer extensive technical and operational experience in developmental stage drug companies.

Pepper Landson
CEO & Co-Founder

Pepper Landson has devoted a nearly 30 year career to healthcare. She has a proven record of creating value in early stage companies. Combining her skills in business development and operations with an extensive drug development background, she is ideally suited to her role. She has worked exclusively on the Amadorin technology and diabetic complications for the last 9 years.

Raja G. Khalifah, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer

Raja G. Khalifah, PhD, is a broadly trained chemist and biochemist who transitioned from academia to directing research at three startups founded on discoveries from his research. He leverages his extensive experience in medicinal chemistry and drug design, pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, and preclinical and clinical studies. Dr. Khalifah is the primary co-inventor on 15 issued US patents in Amadorins and related fields.

Peter C. Johnson, MD
Chief Medical Officer

Peter C. Johnson, MD, is both an accomplished surgeon and clinical researcher. His career is complemented by successful entrepreneurial endeavors in the space of regenerative medicine and biomedical technology.

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board includes world renowned experts providing guidance across the spectrum of diabetic complications.

Rayaz Malik, MD, PhD
Neuropathy

Weill Cornell School of Medicine

Peter McCullough, MD, MPH
Cardio-Renal

Baylor University Medical Center

George Bakris, MD
Nephropathy & Hypertension

University of Chicago

Jamie Dwyer, MD
Nephrology

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Alexander ‘Zan’ Fleming, MD
Regulatory Strategy

Kinexum LLC. Former head of the Division of Metabolic and Endocrinology Products, U.S. FDA

4. News

Praetego Inc Receives NIH Phase 2 STTR Funding Award

September 29, 2020
Praetego Inc. is pleased to announce the approval of a multi-year $2.1M STTR grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health. The award advances the Company’s proprietary small molecules for treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). This grant follows the successfully completed Phase 1 award from the NIDDK that identified novel potent drug candidates in the class of “Amadorins”.
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Praetego to present at the Venture Connect Summit in Raleigh NC

March 1, 2020
Praetego will showcase their candidates as potential disease modifying drugs against serious diabetic complications, starting with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. The Amadorins are novel small molecules developed by Praetego scientists and designed from a clinically proven prototype.
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February 10, 2020
Praetego co-founder and CEO Pepper Landson sat down with Proactive’s Christine Corrado at BIO CEO in New York. The Durham, North Carolina-based preclinical-stage pharmaceutical company is focusing on developing treatments to address serious diabetic complications.
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Archive

Praetego submits a $2.5M Phase 2 grant to NIH/NIDDK

January 2, 2020
After a successful conclusion of the Phase 1 NIDDK grant, Praetego submits a Phase 2 SBIR/STTR grant to continue preclinical development of novel Amadorins against Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy. This award would provide preclinical proof of concept in multiple animal models of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic neuropathy.

5. Contact

Address
68 TW Alexander Drive
Durham, NC 27709

Praetego is located in the heart of Research Triangle Park, home to a robust life science ecosystem.

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