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Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals is a San Francisco-based company founded in 1998. It focuses on the research and development of oncology therapeutics for solid and...
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals
Sunesis Pharmaceuticals is a San Francisco-based company founded in 1998. It focuses on the research and development of oncology therapeutics for solid and hematologic cancers. The company has secured $113.2 million in total funding.
General information
Firm type
Business Intelligence / IT Consulting / Pharmaceutical Regulatory Consulting
Year founded
1995
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
South San Francisco
Corporate office
South San Francisco, CA, United States
Additional offices
New York, NY · Menlo Park, CA · Farmington, CT · San Jose, CA · Palo Alto, CA · Alexandria, VA · Jackson, WY · Zurich, Switzerland · San Rafael, CA · Santa Clara, CA
Principals
Daniel Swisher
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What was Sunesis Pharmaceuticals' lead drug candidate?
Sunesis' lead drug candidate was vosaroxin, a small-molecule quinolone derivative that inhibits topoisomerase II, designed to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The drug reached Phase III clinical trials (the VALOR study) but did not meet its primary endpoint. (per Sunesis SEC filings)
Did Sunesis Pharmaceuticals have any approved drugs?
No. Sunesis never received FDA approval for any of its drug candidates. Vosaroxin was the most advanced compound, but Phase III results were negative in 2016. (per FDA database)
Who acquired Sunesis Pharmaceuticals?
Viracta Therapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company, acquired Sunesis Pharmaceuticals in an all-stock transaction that closed in August 2022. The combined entity retained the Viracta name. (per Viracta Therapeutics press release, August 2022)
How was Sunesis Pharmaceuticals financed?
Sunesis was a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: SNSS) that raised capital through public stock offerings, strategic partnerships with larger pharma firms, and government grants. It reported accumulated deficits typical of a development-stage biotech. (per SEC filings, public record)
What therapeutic areas did Sunesis Pharmaceuticals focus on?
Sunesis focused exclusively on oncology, specifically small-molecule inhibitors for hematologic cancers and solid tumors. Programs included kinase inhibitors and topoisomerase inhibitors. (per company pipeline disclosures)
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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