Ship of Theseus
A therapeutics company developing degradation-resistant Hox family biologics
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Ship of Theseus is developing a fleet of biologics based on the homeobox (HOX) family of transcription factors. The 39 HOX genes are master regulators of many context-specific cell phenotypes and coordinated tissue-level behaviors. The 39 Homeobox genes can be thought of as a piano with 39 keys. By playing different chords (different combinations of HOXs), almost any cell behavior can be generated. 
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However, due to their power, cells have machinery to quickly eliminate these proteins so that their duration of effect is very brief. For that reason, HOX proteins are difficult to develop as drugs.
Ship of Theseus makes proprietary modifications to a conserved domain of the HOX protein sequence. These modified molecules avoid the intracellular "garbage disposal," allowing the proteins to be used as pharmaceuticals without the need for frequent repeat dosing. |
News:
Apr 29, 2025 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser moderates panel on Defense and Space Applications of Longevity Science at Association for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) DC summit
Apr 4, 2025 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser is interviewed by the Association for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) scientist spotlight. https://a4li.org/podcast/scientist-spotlight-ep-19-jeremy-elser-phd/
Sep 6, 2024 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser conducts interview with European Wound Management Association (EWMA) Innovation Alliance (EIA) lead Edwin den Braber. https://lnkd.in/d8-PBi82
May 2, 2024 Ship of Theseus wins the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) Innovation Alliance (EIA) competition for its HOXA3m in chronic wounds. The EWMA is the largest wound conference in the world, drawing 4500 clinicians and industrialists. Ship of Theseus surpassed 10 other elite applicants, including some with veteran executive teams and clinical data. This award has de-risked and accelerated our program both by driving immediate outreach from potential investors/strategic partners and also by generating credibility and excitement among the physicians who will ultimately be required to prescribe our product.
Apr 4, 2024 After a rigorous RFP process, Ship of Theseus announces engagement of Charles River Laboratories (CRL) for GMP manufacturing of its lead candidate for chronic wounds. BusinessWire
Oct 4, 2023 Ship of Theseus and partner CRO Ichor Life Sciences present a poster at DFcon 2023 in Anaheim, CA. Potential strategic partners are engaged for further discussions.
Jun 19, 2023 Ship of Theseus publishes “HOXA3 Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic and Aged Non-Diabetic Mammals” in Nature Scientific Reports. Paper recapitulates literature findings of HOXA3 benefit in diabetic mice while also extending to non-diabetic mouse wounds.
Sep 1, 2023 Ship of Theseus is awarded an NHLBI Catalyze R33 grant, extending its work under "Preclinical development of a nuclear-targeting biologic that safely increases stem cell expansion in vivo to accelerate recovery from neutropenia after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant." Covers in vivo demonstration of optimized molecular formula.
Jun 19, 2023 Ship of Theseus publishes “HOXA3 Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic and Aged Non-Diabetic Mammals” in Nature Scientific Reports. Paper recapitulates literature findings of HOXA3 benefit in diabetic mice while also extending to non-diabetic mouse wounds. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36933-4
Sep 30, 2022. Ship of Theseus is awarded an SBIR NIA Phase I for "An inside out approach that reprograms wound tissue to accelerate chronic wound healing in aging populations." Covers in vitro and in vivo demonstration of HOXA3+ superiority in action on key cell types and non-diabetic aged wound healing.
Aug 17, 2022. Ship of Theseus is awarded an NHLBI Catalyze R33 grant for "Preclinical development of a nuclear-targeting biologic that safely increases stem cell expansion in vivo to accelerate recovery from neutropenia after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant." Covers optimization of molecular formula.
Aug 6, 2021. Ship of Theseus is awarded an SBIR NHLBI Phase I for Stimulant for stem cell expansion in vivo to speed recovery of neutropenia secondary to chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Covers in vitro and in vivo demonstration of HOXB4+ superiority for short and long-term HSCT reconstitution in vivo.
Apr 29, 2025 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser moderates panel on Defense and Space Applications of Longevity Science at Association for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) DC summit
Apr 4, 2025 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser is interviewed by the Association for Longevity Initiatives (A4LI) scientist spotlight. https://a4li.org/podcast/scientist-spotlight-ep-19-jeremy-elser-phd/
Sep 6, 2024 Ship of Theseus CEO Jeremy Elser conducts interview with European Wound Management Association (EWMA) Innovation Alliance (EIA) lead Edwin den Braber. https://lnkd.in/d8-PBi82
May 2, 2024 Ship of Theseus wins the European Wound Management Association (EWMA) Innovation Alliance (EIA) competition for its HOXA3m in chronic wounds. The EWMA is the largest wound conference in the world, drawing 4500 clinicians and industrialists. Ship of Theseus surpassed 10 other elite applicants, including some with veteran executive teams and clinical data. This award has de-risked and accelerated our program both by driving immediate outreach from potential investors/strategic partners and also by generating credibility and excitement among the physicians who will ultimately be required to prescribe our product.
Apr 4, 2024 After a rigorous RFP process, Ship of Theseus announces engagement of Charles River Laboratories (CRL) for GMP manufacturing of its lead candidate for chronic wounds. BusinessWire
Oct 4, 2023 Ship of Theseus and partner CRO Ichor Life Sciences present a poster at DFcon 2023 in Anaheim, CA. Potential strategic partners are engaged for further discussions.
Jun 19, 2023 Ship of Theseus publishes “HOXA3 Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic and Aged Non-Diabetic Mammals” in Nature Scientific Reports. Paper recapitulates literature findings of HOXA3 benefit in diabetic mice while also extending to non-diabetic mouse wounds.
Sep 1, 2023 Ship of Theseus is awarded an NHLBI Catalyze R33 grant, extending its work under "Preclinical development of a nuclear-targeting biologic that safely increases stem cell expansion in vivo to accelerate recovery from neutropenia after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant." Covers in vivo demonstration of optimized molecular formula.
Jun 19, 2023 Ship of Theseus publishes “HOXA3 Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic and Aged Non-Diabetic Mammals” in Nature Scientific Reports. Paper recapitulates literature findings of HOXA3 benefit in diabetic mice while also extending to non-diabetic mouse wounds. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36933-4
Sep 30, 2022. Ship of Theseus is awarded an SBIR NIA Phase I for "An inside out approach that reprograms wound tissue to accelerate chronic wound healing in aging populations." Covers in vitro and in vivo demonstration of HOXA3+ superiority in action on key cell types and non-diabetic aged wound healing.
Aug 17, 2022. Ship of Theseus is awarded an NHLBI Catalyze R33 grant for "Preclinical development of a nuclear-targeting biologic that safely increases stem cell expansion in vivo to accelerate recovery from neutropenia after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant." Covers optimization of molecular formula.
Aug 6, 2021. Ship of Theseus is awarded an SBIR NHLBI Phase I for Stimulant for stem cell expansion in vivo to speed recovery of neutropenia secondary to chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Covers in vitro and in vivo demonstration of HOXB4+ superiority for short and long-term HSCT reconstitution in vivo.
Therapeutic Pipeline
