Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2016 there were approximately 19,950 new cases of AML in the United States and 10,430 deaths. Worldwide in 2012, the number of people living with AML was estimated by the World Health Organization to be 351,965 and the number killed 265,461. AML usually presents in late middle age. Consequently, countries such as the United States, with a baby-boom generation reaching retirement age, can expect AML to become an increasing health care burden. Current treatments for AML fail to prevent 74% of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis. In addition, the existing gold standard for AML treatment is non-specific chemotherapy that causes patients to suffer severe side effects including increased vulnerability to life-threatening infections. These considerations highlight the urgent need for new AML therapeutics.

Leukemia Therapeutics is committed to develop targeted therapies for AML that will improve both patient survival and quality of life. Specifically, our proprietary discovery platform has identified four new therapeutic targets on the surface of AML. We are currently developing antibodies that bind these targets and testing their therapeutic efficacy.