Jim Foght, Ph.D.

Oncolyze is developing a disruptive technology for the treatment of cancer. Our novel approach uses a simple mechanism of action to selectively kill cancer cells and cancer stem cells while sparing normal cells. This provides a highly effective treatment with little to no side effects. Our lead drug candidate, OM-301, has two parts; the first attaches to a molecule that is present on the cell surface of more than 80% of cancer types we have assessed, but not on normal cells. When our drug attaches to this target, it uses it as an anchor; the second part then pokes holes in the cell membrane, causing extracellular liquid to rapidly enter, which in turn causes the cancer cell to burst. No known cancer drug uses such a mechanism, although many antibiotics kill bacteria in a similar way. Our initial therapeutic target is acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Most AML patients relapse within 1 year of standard therapy, because it does not destroy cancer stem cells. As a result, AML has only a 25% 5-year survival rate. In contrast, OM-301 does destroy cancer stem cells, which has the potential to disrupt current medical treatment and fully cure AML. Recently, we showed that mice injected with AML cells taken directly from patients lived twice as long after receiving our drug. Following our proof of concept in AML, we expect to pursue development for patients with Multiple Myeloma and other blood and solid cancers.

Oncolyze is developing a disruptive technology for the treatment of cancer. Our novel approach uses a simple mechanism of action to selectively kill cancer cells and cancer stem cells while sparing normal cells. This provides a highly effective treatment with little to no side effects. Our lead drug candidate, OM-301, has two parts; the first attaches to a molecule that is present on the cell surface of more than 80% of cancer types we have assessed, but not on normal cells. When our drug attaches to this target, it uses it as an anchor; the second part then pokes holes in the cell membrane, causing extracellular liquid to rapidly enter, which in turn causes the cancer cell to burst. No known cancer drug uses such a mechanism, although many antibiotics kill bacteria in a similar way. Our initial therapeutic target is acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Most AML patients relapse within 1 year of standard therapy, because it does not destroy cancer stem cells. As a result, AML has only a 25% 5-year survival rate. In contrast, OM-301 does destroy cancer stem cells, which has the potential to disrupt current medical treatment and fully cure AML. Recently, we showed that mice injected with AML cells taken directly from patients lived twice as long after receiving our drug. Following our proof of concept in AML, we expect to pursue development for patients with Multiple Myeloma and other blood and solid cancers.

KCO is not a traditional private equity firm. We are a “family office”. We invest capital on behalf of the Kidd family as well as each member of our firm. We trace our roots to 1976 when our Founding Partner, Bill Kidd, made his first private equity investment. Since that time, we have grown and prospered with a non-traditional approach to private equity, both in terms of firm structure and investment philosophy. Since we do not have a traditional “fund”, we self-finance the operations of our firm and personally invest in every transaction. We do not have “Limited Partners” that dictate how we invest so we can be creative and flexible with the types of transactions that we evaluate and manner in which we structure our investments; without pre-determined exit requirements or hold periods. As a result, we believe that we can provide a customized solution that satisfies the various interests of each constituent in each transaction, including founders, shareholders, employees, lenders, and equity partners. Since we are business owners, we think and act like business owners, not passive, hands-off investors. We focus on strategy-led investments where the complementary skills and experience of our team can be applied to drive value over time and fundamentally improve the businesses in which we invest. We partner with founders, owners, and senior officers of companies who have created valuable franchises but who, for personal, professional, and/or financial reasons, have reached a point where they need or desire outside resources – managerial, operational, administrative, financial – to not only help them take their businesses to the next level but also address personal financial and lifestyle goals. To learn more, please visit our website or contact a member of our team.