Ziopharm (ZIOP)

Company Description

(ZIOP) is a second-generation gene therapy company focused on the development of new cancer treatments with a laser focus on the red-hot immune oncology (I/O) sector. ZIOP licensed its gene expression control technology from synthetic-biology innovator Intrexon for use in the development of DNA-based oncology treatments. Under an exclusive channel partner agreement, the two companies have collaborated to develop a tightly controlled system that injects a gene-expression package into tumors to express the anti-tumor cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12), but only when patients take a pill that contains a ligand to activate the IL-12 gene. When the patient stops taking the pill, IL-12 expression stops, allowing for specific dosing for a set time. Expression is controlled by Intrexon’s proprietary biologic switch known as the RheoSwitch. The ability to administer or withdraw the pill to control gene expression is a key safety benefit.