EpiTranslations

EpiTranslations is an early-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel combination therapeutics for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Co-founded by Dr. Daniel Romo of Baylor University and Dr. Susan E. Bates of Columbia University, the company leverages a synergistic combination of des-methyl pateamine A (DMPatA), a novel small molecule eIF4A inhibitor derived from a marine sponge, and romidepsin, a class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. This combination therapy induces robust and persistent hyperacetylation, transcriptional overload, and metabolic stress in cancer cells, leading to synergistic cell death at low, non-toxic doses. EpiTranslations was selected as part of the 2025 cohort of the Texas Medical Center Innovation's Accelerator for Cancer Therapeutics (ACT) to advance its pre-clinical pipeline toward clinical development. By targeting the translation machinery and epigenetic regulation simultaneously, the company aims to overcome resistance mechanisms and significantly improve survival rates for patients with aggressive solid tumors.