Palm Therapeutics, Inc.

Palm Therapeutics is a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on developing novel therapeutics by targeting protein palmitoylation, a post-translational modification essential for the function of many proteins involved in disease. The company utilizes its proprietary PalmReader screening platform, which enables high-throughput detection of palmitoylation to identify modulating molecules. This approach allows the company to pursue drug development in a previously underexplored area of biology, aiming to selectively control protein activity for therapeutic purposes. Palm Therapeutics co-founders Andrew Rudd and Neal Devaraj established the organization to unlock this biological space and develop the first palmitoylation-targeted small molecules.

The company is particularly focused on treating cancers with high unmet needs, such as NRas-mutant melanoma, by developing drugs that inhibit oncogenic function through the modulation of palmitoylation. By providing a method to target proteins that were previously difficult to address, Palm Therapeutics seeks to offer new treatment options for patients. The company has gained industry recognition through awards such as the Servier Discovery Award and has been supported by various grants, including funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Through these efforts, Palm Therapeutics continues to advance its lead programs and expand its drug discovery capabilities.