Exicure, Inc. (XCUR) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that leverages a proprietary spherical nucleic acid (SNA) architecture to target diseases from the inside out. The company's headquarter is located in Chicago, Illinois. Its core SNA technology is built upon a programmable, multivalent approach which is designed to invade cells in the body, thus allowing for the precise manipulation of disease-related genes. This could provide potential benefits for a myriad of therapeutic areas and diseases including genetic disorders, oncology, immuno-oncology, inflammatory disorders, and many others.
Exicure's mission is to transform lives through the power of genetic medicines. The company is steered by a scientific vision rooted in the potential of its SNA platform to drive better patient outcomes. It aims to create and develop a unique class of immunomodulatory and gene-regulating drugs that can penetrate cells and target immune and genetic diseases at their roots.
Exicure's dedication to scientific inquiry and deliberation extends beyond just technological development—they also engage in partnerships with other pharmaceutical and biotech firms to further advance their research and development efforts, potentially expanding treatment options available to patients. Their partnerships also support preclinical development and improvement for each of the therapeutic areas in which they operate.
As of 2021, the company has a robust platform of products under development. These include its lead drug candidate AST-008, which is currently in a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for the treatment of various types of tumors. Further, Exicure is initiating clinical development of XCUR-FXN, their first neurology program intended for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia, a rare genetic disease.
The work Exicure is doing in genetic medicine and their exploration of the SNA technology represent an exciting new frontier in disease treatment. Their work could potentially unlock new treatments for a variety of genetic and immune diseases, including some of the world's most challenging and intractable health issues, thus making a considerable difference in the medical field and to those patients affected by these conditions.