Nature’s wisdom in modern medicine: A journey from wildlife to bedside

Peel Therapeutics Chief Executive Officer Joshua Schiffman is a visionary in the field of drug discovery, drawing inspiration from the natural world to develop innovative therapies. His passion for translating wildlife knowledge into human treatments has led to the founding of Peel Therapeutics, a company that takes a unique approach to drug development.

Schiffman’s journey began at the age of 15 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sparking his interest in pediatric oncology and cancer genetics. Fascinated by the fact that elephants rarely get cancer despite their massive size, Schiffman delved into the genomics of these animals and discovered the key role of the p53 gene in their cancer resistance. This discovery laid the foundation for his groundbreaking work in biomimicry and drug development.

Peel Therapeutics leverages insights from animal biology to identify new drug targets. By studying animals like elephants, bowhead whales, naked mole rats, and bats, Schiffman and his team have uncovered unique genetic pathways that confer immunity to diseases such as cancer and inflammation. Through the Darwin Discovery Platform, Peel Therapeutics analyzes genomic data from a wide range of species to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

One of Peel Therapeutics‘ lead drugs, PEEL-224, is currently in clinical development for solid cancers. Derived from the camptothecin toxin found in the „happy tree“ of China, PEEL-224 has shown promising results in Phase 1 trials. With increased bioavailability and reduced side effects compared to existing cancer drugs, PEEL-224 has the potential to become a new standard of care for certain types of cancer.

Schiffman’s work at Peel Therapeutics represents a groundbreaking approach to drug discovery, harnessing the power of evolution to develop novel therapies. By translating the wisdom of the natural world into human medicine, Schiffman and his team are paving the way for a new era of personalized and effective treatments. Through their innovative research and development efforts, they aim to save lives and improve patient outcomes on a global scale.