IRX Therapeutics was founded in 1994 by John W. Hadden, M.D., a recognized leader and pioneer in the field of immunopharmacology for over 30 years. In the 1970s, Dr. Hadden founded and developed the Immunopharmacology program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City. Dr. Hadden was recruited to the University of South Florida (USF) Medical College from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 1982 to head a Dean’s program of Immunopharmacology.

Dr. Hadden’s research at USF focused on the action of drugs and various biological substances on the immune system, most specifically on the thymus-dependent cellular immune system. With insights drawn from work with more than 250 such agents, he initially planned mouse studies and ultimately human studies to investigate ways to correct depressed immunity as occurs in cancer and aging.

The most significant results of the immunotherapy studies were discovered in patients with head and neck cancer. The treatment is an engineering approach with cytokines and supplemental medicines aimed at inducing an immunization to the patient’s own tumor. Dr. Hadden’s findings led to new insights into how cancers subvert cellular immunity, a better understanding of what human tumors undergoing immune regression look like, and a product, IRX-2, that has now completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials.

Since IRX’s founding, the Company has made steady progress in its journey toward its goal of developing the products discovered in Dr. Hadden’s research. Recognizing that people make the difference between success and failure, IRX has made it a top priority to build a strong team of dedicated, talented and experienced individuals to manage, advise and collaborate with the Company in every area of product discovery and development.

Today, IRX Therapeutics is preparing to launch a pivotal, multi-national Phase 3 trial for this therapy which could ultimately lead to regulatory approvals worldwide. The IRX-2 IND has been granted Fast Track Designation by FDA.