Eric J. Sandquist

Immune Control is an emerging pharmaceutical company developing novel, orally available, small molecules for autoimmune/inflammatory diseases. The company is commercializing the discovery that serotonin is a required growth factor for dividing lymphocytes. Certain serotonin antagonists eliminate activated or dividing T- or B-lymphocytes without disturbing resting lymphocytes. The ability to kill activated immune cells selectively has important implications for treating autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, hematologic cancers, and organ transplant rejection. Immune Control is a first-mover and the leader in the emerging field of serotonin-based immunotherapeutics. Their preclinical development program has yielded important insights into the design of orally available, potent, small molecules for autoimmune/inflammatory conditions. Immune Control is focused initially on two diseases: rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Immune Control designs and develops novel compounds using in vitro and in vivo assays for receptor binding, efficacy, safety, and bioavailability. In 2008, the company plans to nominate two compounds as IND candidates for RA and asthma. In addition, they are conducting phase 1, proof-of-concept clinical trials in multiple myeloma and psoriasis, utilizing a currently approved serotonin antagonist.