OncoTartis uses proprietary integrated drug and target discovery platform named TARTIS (abbreviation for TARgeting TISsue). It involves parallel screening of chemical and shRNA libraries for identification of small molecules and shRNAs corresponding to specific genes, which are capable of selective killing of cells representing the tissue of choice.

This setup ensures maximally unbiased approach to drug and target candidates. Identification of chemicals and genes with desired properties is followed by mechanistic studies, in which both lines of study merge together resulting in identification of molecular targets for the isolated compounds among the functional shRNA-corresponding genes. The lead for further development should satisfy a series of strict criteria, including specificity, efficacy, therapeutic window in preclinical models, stability, understanding of the mechanism of action, availability of companion diagnostics, suitability for formulation, etc. One of the most important among selection criteria is relative toxicity of the compound to transformed versus normal cells of the same tissue. 

Phenotype-based screening is performed without a priori knowledge of molecular target. When target is identified for a discovered lead compound with desired activity, it could be either previously known or a completely new target.  Novel molecular targets are characterized and considered as entry points into additional target-based drug discovery rounds. If the identified target is already known, tissue specificity of the found lead compound points with certainty which cancer type should be pursued for the development.

OncoTartis research team has strong experience in both chemical and biological screenings. Andrei Gudkov’s lab, the place of origin of TARTIS technology, pioneered a number of target and drug discovery methodologies with specific focus on cell phenotype-based readout systems. At OncoTartis, TARTIS technology has been applied to identification of compounds and targets to treat breast, prostate, ovarian cancers, melanoma and hematological malignancies.