Silexion Therapeutics combines cutting-edge science, advanced technologies, and a passion for innovation to address the significant unmet medical needs in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Focused Pipeline to Address KRAS-driven Solid Tumor Localized Cancers

SIL-204

Silexion Technology is a platform technology consisting of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PLG microparticle products for treating KRAS-driven solid tumors.

Our innovative approach for silencing KRAS-driven oncogenes, siRNAs “Kill the oncogene messenger” by adding to the tumor cells synthetically produced and specifically designed oligonucleotide-building blocks of genes. The siRNA binds to the specific messenger RNA and stimulates a process for its destruction.

These cells’ natural mechanisms evolved as a defense against viral infections, but we leveraged them to fight cancer. 

SIL 204 is designed to inhibit the KRAS-driven oncogenic process which appears in more than 90% of Pancreatic Cancers.

By delivering siRNA to eliminate the messengers (mRNA) of the G12V and G12D mutant KRAS oncogenes, the oncogenic KRAS protein is not produced, and the cell can act as a normal healthy cell instead of a tumor cell.

SIL-204 will be administered directly into our first indication, Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer tumors, by Ultrasound-guided EUS endoscopy, with the microparticles continue releasing the siRNAs over an extended period of 3 months.

Our lead SIL-204 is the optimized version of the siRNA used in our first-generation product LODERTM. Both siRNA and extended-release formulation demonstrate multiple advantages:

  • Improved drug stability, tumor cell penetration, and broaden activity to other KRAS mutations
  • Better release profile of over 3-month dosing regimen
  • Easier administration with microparticle suspension allows smaller, more flexible needle

What is RNAi (RNA Interference) and siRNA?

RNAi is a naturally occurring regulatory process in the body.
siRNAs are a specific class of RNAi that targets the messenger RNAs before their translation to oncogene proteins. 
It is an essential regulatory component of all living organisms.

What does it do?

Just like its name suggests, siRNA interferes in the process of translation mRNA into proteins.

In the cells, the siRNA is loaded into a protein complex called the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which unwinds the siRNA, retaining the antisense strand, thus silencing the target gene, and preventing protein production.

Taking advantage of the body’s natural defence mechanism, we design our siRNAs to halt the production of a specific pancreatic cancer-causing protein, the mutant KRAS.

Solid Tumors

Solid tumors appear in a high percentage of human cancers.
The tumor environment differs dramatically from normal tissues in the body.
These tumors have high cell density and dense extracellular matrix which generally limits the transport of drugs into the tumor, making it extremely difficult to treat.

Why are Solid Tumors difficult to treat?

  • High levels of collagen and hyaluronan are a major contributor to diffusive hindrance in solid tumors.
  • Biological effects including binding of drugs to cells and degradation of the drug molecules reduce the amount of drug reaching and affecting the cells in the entire tumor volume.
  • Rapid proliferating cancer cells compress lymphatic vessels and reduce lymphatic drainage.

Silexion microparticle siRNA platform enables harnessing of the advantages of siRNA technology to a therapeutic modality for pancreatic cancer.

KRAS

What is KRAS?

KRAS is a critical protein for cell normal functions. 
KRAS is a GTPase that acts as a switchboard hub collecting the signals from different growth receptors in the cells such as EGF.  

It normally switches on and off, but when mutated it stays on.
In a normal cell, most of the RAS molecules are present in an inactive GDP-bound conformation.

However, after 30 years of intensive research, none of the efforts to target KRAS have matured to become a drug.

Read About Us

Ilan Hadar- Chairman

55, has served as Managing Director of Silexion since April 2022 and as Chairman of the Board since May 2024. Ilan has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of New Pubco. He has over 20 years of multinational managerial and corporate experience with pharmaceutical and high-tech companies, as described below, over which time period he has acquired the experience and skills to serve as a valuable member of the board of directors of a company such as Biomotion Sciences. before his current role at Silexion, Mr. Hadar has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Painreform Ltd (Nasdaq: PRFX) since November 2020. Before joining Painreform, Mr. Hadar served as Country Manager in Israel and Chief Financial Officer at Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (currently, Nasdaq: VYNE) from 2014 until August 2020, where he was instrumental in building the organization and launching new innovative topical drugs in the U.S., and also focused on capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his role at Foamix, Mr. Hadar was Finance Director at Pfizer PFR Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., where he oversaw all commercial, financial and operational activities of the local entity of the large pharmaceutical company. Before his tenure at Pfizer, Mr. Hadar served as Finance Manager at HP Indigo Ltd., a world-leading company in digital printing and, prior to that, served as Finance Director at BAE Systems, the third-largest defense company in the world, where he was responsible for all financial activities of BAE Systems Israel. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. Hadar was the Chief Financial Officer at Mango DSP, a global leader in Intelligent Video Solutions. Mr. Hadar served on the board of directors of Kadimastem, a public Israeli biopharmaceutical company from 2019 to 2022. He received his MBA in Finance and Business Entrepreneurship and BA from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.

Mirit Horenshtein Hadar- Chief Finanacial Officer

Has served as the Executive Vice President of Finance Affairs at Silexion since January 2024, and will be appointed as Chief Financial Officer of New Pubco effective upon the consummation of the Business Combination. From August 2023 to January 2024, Ms. Horenshtein Hadar served as a part-time consultant in a Strategy & Corporate Finance Advisory capacity. Ms. Horenshtein Hadar has over 15 years ofcorporate finance experience in senior financial positions of public companies and privately held companies, in the pharmaceutical and high-tech industries, where she has been instrumental in building financial infrastructures for growth, U.S. GAAP financial reporting and FP&A functions, and has led the accounting and reporting of complex M&A transactions, integration processes and public offerings. Prior to joining Silexion, from January 2021 to December 2022, Ms. Horenshtein Hadar served as VP of Finance and then CFO Israel of Gauzy Ltd. (currently, Nasdaq: GAUZ), a nanotechnology company that develops and markets smart glass and vision control technologies. Since December 2022, Ms. Horenshtein Hadar continues to serve as an external advisor to the finance department at Gauzy. Prior to Gauzy, Ms. Horenshtein Hadar served as Senior Director of Finance and Head of FP&A, Accounting and Financial Reporting at Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (currently, Nasdaq: VYNE) from July 2016 until December 2020. Prior to Foamix, Ms. Horenshtein Hadar was a Senior Manager at PwC Israel, as an external auditor, from 2008 to 2016. Ms. Horenshtein Hadar became a Qualified CPA in 2011 and received a BA in Accounting, Economics and Business Management from Tel Aviv University.

Orit Pollack–Shragai, M.Sc, MBA- VP Clinical Operations

Mrs. Pollack Shragai brings  over  two  decades  of relevant academic education, research and work experience in the biomed industry working for CRO, big pharma and start-up companies, managing local and international clinical trials (including mega trials) in drugs and medical devices. Prior to joining Silenseed, Mrs. Pollack Shragai served as Director of Clinical Operations and Active Advisor to several pharmaceutical companies 

Mrs. Pollack Shragai holds a  B.Sc  in  Food  Engineering  and  Biotechnology  from  the  Technion  in  Israel,  M.Sc  in Biotechnology  from  the  Hebrew  University  and  MBA  from  the  College  of  Management Academic Studies.

Michal Yaron- VP Regulatory Affairs

Mrs. Yaron holds 17 years of professional regulatory and product development experience across the pharmaceutical industry, with products from early stage through POC and regulatory approvals by multiple health authorities. Previously Mrs. Yaron held Regulatory Affairs managerial positions at Sol-Gel Technologies, Polypid, and Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Mrs. Yaron Holds a M.Sc. degree in Chemistry.

Dr. Revital Maor Aloni

Dr. Revital Maor Aloni Joined Silenseed in December 2019 and led the quality of the KRAS-LODER from phase II. She also led the process for gaining a GMP approval from the Israeli Ministry of health for the LODER. Prior to joining Silenseed Dr. Maor Aloni has served as Director of Quality in SciVak Ltd. a biotechnology company from 2017, and prior to that as Director of Quality systems in Lumenis, a medical device company. Dr. Maor Aloni also served as senior manager in Aminolab Ltd. For 6 years as head of the Microbiology department and the chemistry department. Dr. Maor Aloni holds a Ph. D in microbiology from Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva and Post-Doctorate from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

Dr. Racheli Malka Gabai

VP Pharmaceutical Development, Ph. D- Dr Gabai Malka Joined Silenseed in February 2009 and leads the development of the formulation and the production of the KRAS-LODER from the concept stage and up to Phase II. Dr Gabai Malka holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a M.Sc. in Chemistry both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and holds a Ph.D. and a Post-Doctorate in Chemistry from the Weizmann institute of science in Rehovot, Israel.

Dr Gabai Malka is a co-author of 12 scientific papers and co-inventor of 8 of the Silenseed’s granted patents.

Dr. Mitchell Shirvan - Chief Scientific and Development Officer

Has served as the Chief Scientific and Development Officer of Silexion since April 2022. Prior to joining Silexion, Dr. Shirvan served as the Senior Vice President of R&D and V.P. Innovation and Discovery at Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. from 2014 to 2019. Dr. Shirvan has over 25 years of industry experience, previously holding positions as Chief Executive Officer at Macrocure Ltd. from 2008 to 2012. From 1992 until 2008, Dr. Shirvan held various positions of increasing responsibility at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, including Senior Director, Strategic Business Planning and Senior Manager, Research & Development. Prior to his tenure at Teva, he was a research fellow at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Dr. Shirvan holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MBA from the University of Bradford.

Ilan Hadar – Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Hadar brings over 20 years of multinational managerial and corporate experience with pharmaceutical and high-tech companies. Ilan has been instrumental in building companies from start-ups to hundreds of millions of dollars in operations. He successfully took part in the development, approval, and launch of new pharmaceutical products in the U.S. and Israel. Before joining Seilexion, Ilan is served as the Chief Executive Officer of Painreform Ltd. (“PRFX”) from Nov. 2020 to June 2024. Painreform proprietary extended-release drug-delivery system is designed to provide an extended period of post-surgical pain relief without the need for repeated dose administration. Prior to joining Painreform, Ilan served as Country Manager Israel and Chief Financial Officer at Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (now NASDAQ: VYNE) since 2014, where he was instrumental in building the organization and launching new innovative topical drugs in the U.S., as well as a focus on capital markets and M&A. Prior to Foamix, Ilan was Finance Director at Pfizer Pharmaceutical Ltd., where he oversaw all commercial, financial and operational activities of the local entity. Ilan served on the Board of Directors at Kadimastem, a public Israeli biopharmaceutical company (TASE: KDST). Ilan received his MBA in Finance and Business Entrepreneurship and B.A. degree at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel.