21st Century Pharmaceuticals

21st Century Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was a specialized biotechnology company based in Bethesda, Maryland, that focused on the development of novel small molecule therapeutics for biodefense and infectious diseases. The company’s primary research centered on structure-based drug design, specifically targeting the lethal factor (LF) of Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax. Their development programs were aimed at inhibiting the zinc-dependent metalloprotease activity of the lethal factor to prevent systemic toxemia, a critical stage of infection that often remains fatal despite antibiotic treatment. The company was a frequent recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants during the 2000s. While it contributed significant early-stage research to the field of biodefense, the company has since ceased active operations and its programs are no longer in active development.