RIANA team had an incredible time running! The energy, teamwork, and camaraderie made it unforgettable. We were proud to send two teams of three this year, and the best part? We improved our results from 2023!
It was a perfect day to step away from the lab, have fun, and strengthen our bond as a team. We’re already planning our next sporty challenges, and I couldn’t be more excited. Huge thanks to everyone at RIANA for creating such a fantastic atmosphere – here’s to more shared adventures!
From left to right: Anna, Dominika, Anna, Tobias, Angela and Christine
Vienna, June 2024. We are pleased to announce the formation of our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which includes leading experts in the field of cancer research and small molecule development. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to demonstrate how our platform screening approach for protein-protein interaction inhibitors and our pipeline molecules can improve the lives of cancer patients.
Anna Quattropani, PhD VP Chemisty Anavo Tx, Expert in medicinal chemistry
Anna brings over 20 years of experience in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, with a strong track record of advancing clinical candidates through to Phase 2/3. She has invented small molecules for neurodegenerative diseases and reproductive health. Her expertise spans targeted protein degradation, enzyme inhibition, GPCR modulation, and protein-protein interactions across various therapeutic areas. Currently SVP of Chemistry and Non-Clinical Development at Anavo Therapeutics, Anna holds 48 patents in oral and CNS small molecule drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, and synthetic organic chemistry.
Jürgen Moll, PhD Ex-Boehringer Ingelheim, Expert in cancer drug development
Jürgen is a distinguished expert in cancer research and preclinical drug development, focusing on cancer cell targeting and immuno-oncology with small molecules, antibodies, and nanobodies. He has advanced oncology drugs at big pharma companies like Novartis, Pfizer, and Sanofi, as well as biotech spin-offs. Jürgen has held leadership roles at Sanofi, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and Nerviano Medical Sciences. An international consultant, SAB member, and lecturer, he holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Basel and a degree in Microbiology from the University of Bayreuth.
Peter Nussbaumer, PhD KHAN/LDC, Expert in medicinal chemistry
Peter has over 30 years of industry experience in drug discovery. Before joining the LDC, he held key roles in medicinal chemistry at Sandoz and Novartis, most recently as Executive Director and Senior Unit Head of Chemistry at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. He has managed numerous drug discovery projects and coordinated interdisciplinary and international teams. Peter has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, is a co-inventor on several patents, and holds a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Technology, Vienna.
Prof. Richard Moriggl, PhD Co-founder, Expert in STAT/JAK Biology
Prof. Moriggl is a leading expert in STAT biology, with significant contributions to understanding STAT3/5 signaling in normal and cancer cells. He was a Professor for Functional Cancer Genomics at Vetmeduni Vienna from 2014 to 2022 and has been a successful PI for 17 years, overseeing personnel, funding, and scientific management. As director of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research for 14 years, he shaped a successful research program and managed an annual budget of up to €2.5 million.
RIANA Therapeutics GmbH is a spin-off from University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna founded in 2023 to exploit academic findings from the Moriggl lab and develop therapeutics for the cancer patients.
The approach of selectively targeting specific oncogenic protein-protein interactions (PPI) has been challenging in drug discovery so far. We developed and protected a unique cell-based phenotypic screening system that faithfully allows screening for inhibitors to disrupt such PPI.
Success of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the clinics validated the advantages of targeted therapies. However, there are multiple targets thoroughly described in the literature as potent oncogenes, which are not yet addressed. Among other reasons for these targets being untargeted, are challenging PPI. A big class of such PPI belong to the proteins that are oncogenes only in certain conformations (e.g., oligomers) and are essential proteins in others (e.g., dimers) and therefore need to be selectively targeted. However, we managed to develop a phenotypical screening system to address these oncogenic conformations.
STAT5 – good AND bad transcription factor
The approach of selectively targeting specific oncogenic PPI has been challenging in drug discovery so far. We developed and protected a unique cell-based phenotypic screening system that faithfully allows screening for inhibitors to disrupt such PPI. The technology was used to screen a chemical library and successfully identified STAT5B oligomerization inhibitors that we aim to develop further in RIANA.
Targeting such oncogenic PPI (e.g., oligomerization of STAT5B) is a novel, highly innovative approach toward the development of potent and safe medicines for the treatment of hematopoietic and other cancer types. Due to the nature of this highly selective anti-cancer therapy, we expect significantly less side effects while maintaining adequate efficacy.
RIANA Therapeutics 