History

1995-2004

Harvard University discovers many members of the histone deacetylase family of enzymes.

2003

Harvard University develops first small molecule inhibitor of HDAC6, a compound named tubacin because of its ability to enhance chemical “acetylation” of the intracellular protein tubulin.

2004

Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute recognize that HDAC6 inhibition could potentially play a crucial role in the treatment of multiple myeloma, certain forms of lymphoma and leukemia and inflammatory disorders.

2004-2008

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute collaborate in the lead optimization of further compounds with enhanced potency and selectivity for HDAC6 inhibition, using an “Iterative Biasing Chemistry” methodology.

2007

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute discover a new HDAC6-selective inhibitor shown to be highly active in killing multiple myeloma and other cancerous cells in in vitro disease models, while exhibiting low toxicity in other normal cell types.

2008

October

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals is co-founded by Harvard Medical School professors/researchers Kenneth C. Anderson, MD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), James E. Bradner, MD (Dana-Farber / Broad Institute of Harvard/MIT) and Ralph Mazitschek, Ph.D. (Broad Institute), and by Marc A. Cohen (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute trustee) and Walter Ogier. Acetylon subsequently obtains an exclusive license to "Iterative Biasing Chemistry" methodology and the HDAC6-selective inhibitor program from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute.

2009

March

Acetylon Scientific Founders publish capabilities of Acetylon’s technology platform for the discovery of selective HDAC inhibitors (Nature Chemical Biology).

August

Acetylon announces a $7.25 million Series A financing with private investors and Walter Ogier is appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer.

2010

January

Acetylon announces a $2.0 million additional financing.

October

Acetylon awarded $500 thousand in Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Program grants from the NIH and IRS for its cancer and inflammation drug development programs.

December

Acetylon scientists present favorable results of oral selective HDAC6 inhibitor drug candidate ACY-1215 in disease models of multiple myeloma and in preclinical safety testing at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

2011

February

Wayne W. Hancock MD, Ph.D. and Tso-Pang Yao Ph.D. join the Acetylon Scientific Advisory Board.

May

Acetylon and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announce a partnership to advance ACY-1215 for multiple myeloma, which includes funding from LLS to help support the first clinical trial of an HDAC6 inhibitor.

July

Acetylon completes a $28 million Series B financing with private investors.

September

Acetylon announces initiation in of a Phase 1-2a clinical trial of its lead drug candidate ACY-1215 in relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. The trial explores treatment with ACY-1215 alone and in combination with bortezomib (Velcade, Millenium Pharmaceturicals) and dexamethasone, and will be conducted at several US medical centers.

December

Acetylon scientists and academic collaborators present favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic preclinical data for ACY-1215 plus preclinical evidence for potential restoration of osteoblast function and normalization of bone disease in multiple myelomva by selective HDAC5 inhibition, with alone ACY-1215 or in combination with bortezomib at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

2012

February

Pharmaceutical company Celgene invests $15 million in Acetylon to support expansion of the ACY-1215 clinical development program and names Chief Commercial Officer Mark Alles as an observer to the Acetylon Board of Directors.

April

Acetylon is issued US Patent 8,148,526 covering its lead HDAC6 inhibitor drug candidate, ACY-1215.

July

Acetylon initiates a Phase 1b clinical trial of ACY-1215 in combination with Celgene's Revlimid (lenalidomide) plus dexamethasone, for the treatment of relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Acetylon advances its ongoing clinical trial of ACY-1215 into Phase 1b combination with Takeda Millennium’s Velcade (bortezomib) plus dexamethasone.