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Threshold Pharmaceuticals
Threshold Pharmaceuticals was a Redwood City biotech focused on hypoxia-targeted cancer therapeutics; liquidated in 2017.
Threshold Pharmaceuticals
Threshold Pharmaceuticals was a biotechnology company headquartered in Redwood City, California, that concentrated on therapeutics for hypoxic (low-oxygen) tumor environments. The firm's scientific platform centered on prodrugs designed to remain inert in normal tissues but activate selectively under the low-oxygen conditions typical of solid tumors. Lead candidate evofosfamide (TH-302) reached Phase 3 clinical trials for soft-tissue sarcoma and pancreatic cancer. The company's strategic approach relied on partnerships with larger pharmaceutical firms for late-stage development and potential commercialization. In 2015, Threshold entered into a global license agreement with German oncology firm Merck KGaA for the development and commercialization rights to evofosfamide outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the European Economic Area (per Merck KGaA press release, 2015). The firm also maintained early-stage research programs targeting hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathways. Threshold Pharmaceuticals is now effectively defunct. The company filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in 2017 (per SEC filing, 2017). Its assets, including intellectual property related to hypoxia-targeted therapeutics, were likely liquidated or assigned during bankruptcy proceedings. The team size at its peak remains undisclosed in public filings. Structurally, Threshold Pharmaceuticals represented a classic public biotechnology company model: research-stage entity funded by equity offerings and partnership milestones, with no commercial revenue stream. Its failure illustrates the high-risk nature of oncology drug development and the asymmetric returns that govern biotech investing. No family office or wealth-management structure was ever associated with this entity.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Redwood City
Corporate office
Redwood City, California, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What was Threshold Pharmaceuticals' lead drug candidate?
Evofosfamide (TH-302) was the company's primary compound, a hypoxia-activated prodrug that reached Phase 3 clinical trials for soft-tissue sarcoma and pancreatic cancer. The drug was designed to release the DNA alkylating agent ifosfamide selectively in low-oxygen tumor microenvironments (per ClinicalTrials.gov).
Did Threshold Pharmaceuticals have commercial partnerships?
Yes. In 2015, Threshold licensed ex-U.S. rights to evofosfamide to Merck KGaA for development and commercialization outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the European Economic Area (per Merck KGaA press release, 2015). No revenue from product sales was ever recorded.
What caused Threshold Pharmaceuticals' bankruptcy?
The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2017 after evofosfamide failed to meet primary endpoints in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for advanced pancreatic cancer (per SEC filing, 2017). The failure depleted cash reserves and left the firm unable to secure additional financing or partnerships for its remaining pipeline.
Is Threshold Pharmaceuticals still operational?
No. The company filed voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petitions in 2017 and ceased operations. Its stock was delisted from the Nasdaq exchange. No successor entity or liquidating trust has been publicly reported.
How was Threshold Pharmaceuticals structured as an investment vehicle?
Threshold was structured as a publicly traded biotechnology corporation (Nasdaq: THLD) financed through equity offerings, at-the-market share sales, and milestone payments from licensing partners. It had no family-office or institutional-asset-manager structure — it was a development-stage drug company.
What was Threshold's scientific focus?
The company specialized in developing prodrugs activated by tumor hypoxia — low-oxygen conditions prevalent in solid cancers. Its platform aimed to reduce systemic toxicity by concentrating chemotherapy delivery in malignant tissue. Research extended to HIF pathway modulation.
What happened to Threshold's intellectual property after bankruptcy?
In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a trustee liquidated company assets, including intellectual property portfolios related to hypoxia-activated prodrugs. Specific assignments and purchasers of the IP have not been publicly disclosed in detail.
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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