Galera - The Science of Superoxide Dismutase Mimetics

Learn more about our pipeline, including avasopasem manganese (GC4419) and rucosopasem manganese (GC4711).

Superoxide, a highly reactive molecule, is produced by every cell as a part of normal metabolism, but left uncontrolled it is highly toxic, leading to cell damage or cell death. To prevent this, the body produces superoxide dismutase enzymes (SODs), which convert superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is much less toxic than superoxide to normal tissue, but more toxic to cancer cells. Radiation therapy induces a large burst of superoxide in the irradiated tissues, which can overwhelm these SODs, damaging normal cells. Such damage to the lining of the mouth, or oral mucosa, is referred to as oral mucositis (OM).

Drugs that mimic native SODs could address the inability of SODs to keep up with the superoxide bursts produced by radiation therapy. The challenge has been finding small molecule dismutase mimetics with similarly fast catalytic rates and high selectivity for superoxide. We have designed, and are developing, our selective dismutase mimetics to have these essential features.