PTGX

Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing peptide-based therapies to address significant unmet medical needs in hematology and blood disorders, as well as immunology. Headquartered in Newark, California, the company leverages its proprietary technology platforms to design novel constrained peptides that can be orally delivered. The company's lead product candidate, rusfertide, is in Phase 3 development for polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder characterized by overproduction of red blood cells. Protagonist's pipeline also includes PN-943, an oral alpha-4-beta-7 integrin-specific antagonist in Phase 2 development for inflammatory bowel disease. In 2021, the company entered into a significant collaboration with Janssen Biotech for the development and commercialization of peptide-based molecules, providing substantial non-dilutive funding for its operations. Protagonist has also advanced programs targeting IL-23 receptor for immunological conditions. The company employs approximately 140 people and maintains research facilities in California and Brisbane, Australia. With multiple clinical programs progressing through development and validation of its peptide technology platform through partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, Protagonist positions itself as an emerging player in the oral peptide therapeutics space, addressing conditions that traditionally require injectable biologics.