As 2024 draws to a close, it’s great to reflect on the progress we’ve made at OMass. It’s been a year of growth, innovation, and impactful progress, bringing us closer towards our mission of bringing transformative medicines to patients in need.

Advancing the MC2 Receptor Program

One of the most exciting milestones this year was the nomination of our first clinical candidate targeting the melanocortin-2 (MC2) receptor. This GPCR plays a critical role in conditions like congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and Cushing’s syndrome, where current treatment options remain limited.

Using our proprietary OdyssION™ platform, we developed an insurmountable antagonist designed to resist competition from endogenous ligands. This innovative approach ensures sustained therapeutic efficacy even in challenging disease areas. The program is on track to complete IND-enabling studies in 2025—a critical step in our mission to deliver transformative treatments for patients who need them most.

Strengthening and Expanding Our Team

To support our growing pipeline, we welcomed several talented individuals into key roles this year. Dr. Steve Griffen joined us as Vice President of Clinical Development, bringing over 25 years of experience in endocrinology and clinical research. Angela Hecyk, our new Director of Clinical Operations, and Stuart Hadley, Senior Director of Chemistry Manufacture and Controls, both add invaluable expertise in clinical and manufacturing leadership.

Additionally, we were thrilled to appoint Dr. Sarah Teichmann to our Scientific Advisory Board. Sarah’s pioneering work in cellular genetics and immune system diversity offers critical insights into the development of our OdyssION™ platform. Her expertise will be instrumental in helping us continue to develop medicines against hard-to-drug targets utilizing our drug discovery platform.

This year also saw important promotions within our leadership team. Dr. Hsin Loke, a key part of OMass since 2018, was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), reflecting her exceptional leadership. Dr. Jon Roffey, whose contributions have been pivotal to advancing our pipeline, was also promoted to Senior Vice President of Discovery and Non-Clinical.

In November, we welcomed Professor Steven Charlton as our new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Steven’s expertise in membrane proteins was recognized from the earliest days of OMass when he acted as a scientific advisor. He was then brought into OMass full-time when we part-acquired the company that he had co-founded. Steven’s 25 years’ drug discovery experience and particular expertise in binding kinetics and insurmountability will be invaluable as we continue advancing our clinical programs, especially our MC2 program.

Recognition

In August, we were extremely proud to be named one of Fierce Biotech’s “Fierce 15” biotechnology companies for 2024. This recognition highlights the innovative and groundbreaking work of our team and reinforces the promise of our OdyssION™ platform. It’s a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of everyone at OMass and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in drug discovery.

A Look Ahead

Looking ahead, we are poised for an exciting 2025. With our MC2 receptor antagonist set to enter IND-enabling studies, we continue to advance our immunology and rare disease portfolios, and our pipeline is stronger than ever. Our goal is clear: to build a fully integrated biopharma company that brings life changing medicines to market.

A Note of Gratitude

I want to thank our team, partners, and the wider community for their unwavering support and dedication. Together, we are transforming possibilities into realities, creating valuable medicines for the benefit of patients.